The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the extension of term of the 22nd Law Commission of India up to August 31, 2024.
The Cabinet meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Law Commission of India, a non-statutory body, was originally constituted in 1955. Since then, it has been re-constituted from time to time by the Central government.
Tenure of the present Twenty-Second Law Commission of India had ended on February 20.
Various Law Commissions have made important contributions towards the progressive development and codification of law of the country. The Law Commission has so far submitted 277 reports.
According to a release issued by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), the Chairperson and members of the 22nd Law Commission have joined the office recently.
It said both the members and the Chairman have taken up several pending projects for examination and report, the work on which was in progress.
Therefore, the Central government has decided to extend the tenure of 22nd Law Commission up to August 31, 2024.
The composition of the Commission would remain the same, it added.
The Law Commission consists of one full-time Chairperson; four full-time Members (including Member-Secretary); Secretary, Department of Legal Affairs as ex-officio Member; Secretary, Legislative Department as ex officio Member; and not more than five part-time Members.
The release said during its extended term, the Law Commission would continue to discharge its existing responsibility, as bestowed upon it by order dated February 21, 2020.
The Commission would identify laws, which were no longer relevant and recommend for the repeal of obsolete and unnecessary enactments.
It would suggest enactment of new legislation as may be necessary to implement the Directive Principles and attain the objectives set out in the Preamble of the Constitution.
The Commission was required to consider and convey to the Government its views on any subject relating to law and judicial administration that may be specifically referred to it by the Government through the Ministry of Law & Justice (Department of Legal Affairs), it added.
The release said the Commission would be required to consider the requests for providing research to any foreign countries as may be referred to it by the Government through the Ministry of Law & Justice (Department of Legal Affairs).
The Law Commission would prepare and submit to the Central Government, from time to time, reports on all issues, matters, studies and research undertaken by it and recommending such reports for effective measures to be taken by the Union or any State.
It was further required to perform such other functions as may be assigned to it by the Central Government from time to time, added the release.