Suo Moto Disclosure

Updated as on 13.06.2024

Government of India

Ministry of Law & Justice

Department of Legal Affairs

LAW COMMISSION OF INDIA

INFORMATION PUBLISHED IN PURSUANCE OF SECTION 4(1)((b)-(i) to (xvii)) OF THE RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT, 2005

1. Particulars of its organisation, functions and duties.

   Name of organization: Law Commission of India, D/o Legal Affairs, Ministry of Law & Justice

   Address : 2nd & 4th Floor, B-Wing, Lok Nayak Bhawan, Khan Market, New Delhi

   Head of Organization: Member Secretary, Law Commission of India

2. Vision

   Reforming the laws for maximizing justice in society and promoting good governance under the rule of law.

3. Mission

   The Terms of Reference of the Law Commission, inter alia, includes review/repeal of obsolete laws, to examine the Laws which affect the poor and carry out post-audit for social-economic legislations, to keep under review the system of judicial administration to ensure that it is responsive to the reasonable demands of the times and in particular to secure elimination of delays in cases/and simplification of procedure to reduce and eliminate technicalities, to examine the existing laws in the light of Directive Principles of State Policy and to suggest ways of improvement and reform and also to suggest such legislations as might be necessary to implement the Directive Principles and to attain the objectives set out in the Preamble to the Constitution, Examine the existing laws with a view for promoting gender equality and suggesting amendments thereto, to revise the Central Acts of general importance so as to simp-lify them and to remove anomalies, ambiguities and inequities, to examine the impact of globalization on food security, unemployment and recommend measures for the protection of the interests of the marginalized, etc.

4. Key Objectives

   Revising and updating of the inherited laws, repealing of the outdated laws and recommendations to enact new laws to serve the changing needs of the country with the legal framework fir for 21st century.

5. Functions & Duties

   While discharging its functions in accordance with the Terms of Reference, the Commission is presently assisted by one Joint Secretary & Law Officer and one Deputy Law Officer. The Secretariat staff, looking after the administrative side of the Commission’s operations, presently consists of one Deputy Secretary, One Section Officer and Two Assistant Section Officers. The stenographic assistance to the Commission and its officers is provided by officers of different levels. In addition there are Four Staff Car Drivers and sixteen MTS.

    

6. Organization Chart / Miscellaneous details of Commission
   In independent India the First Law Commission was established in 1955, with the then Attorney General of India, Mr. M.C. Setalvad as its Chairman.Since then, twenty one more Law Commissions have been constituted, each with a three-year term and with certain terms of reference. The names of Chairmen who presided over these Commissions are given below:

The Twenty Second Law Commission has been notified with effect from 21^st February, 2020 for a term of 3 years & has been extended till 31.08.2024.
1. The Powers and duties of its officers and employees

   While discharging its functions in accordance with the Terms of Reference, the Commission is presently assisted by Addl. Secretary (Addition charge), One Additional Law Officer and one Deputy Law Officer. The Secretariat staff, looking after the administrative side of the Commission’s operations, presently consists of one Deputy Secretary and three Assistant Section Officers. The stenographic assistance to the Commission and its officers is provided by officers of different levels. In addition there are Four Staff Car Drivers and Twenty One MTS.

The procedure followed in the decision-making process, including channel of supervision and accountability:

The commission works on projects based on the reference received from the Central Government and / or from the Supreme Courts and the High Courts. At times, keeping in view the importance of the subject matter, the Commission initiates study on specific subject Suo Moto, as per its terms and reference. The projects undertaken by the Commission are initiated in the Commission’s meetings which take place frequently. Priorities are discussed, topics are identified and preparatory work is assigned to each member of the Commission. Depending upon the nature and scope of the topic, different methodologies for collection of data and research are adopted keeping the scope of the proposal and reform in mind. The Law Commission has always been anxious to ensure that the widest section of people is consulted in formulating proposals for law reforms. In this process, professional bodies and academic institutions are consulted. Seminars and workshops are organized to elicit critical opinion on proposed strategies for reform. Usually a carefully prepared questionnaire is also placed on the website. Discussion at Commission meetings during this period helps not only in articulating the issues and focusing the research, but also evolving a consensus among Members of the Commission. What emerges out of this preparatory work in the Commission is usually a working paper outlining the problem and suggesting matters deserving reform. The paper is then sent to all members with a view to eliciting suggestions. Widest consultations with stakeholders are taken on priority.

Once the data and views/suggestions are assimilated, the Commission evaluates them and the information is utilized for appropriate incorporation in the report which is written under the guidance of the Hon’ble Chairman, Members and Member Secretary of the Commission. It is then subjected to close scrutiny by the full Commission in meeting. Once the Report and summary are finalized, the Commission may decide to prepare a draft amendment or a new Bill which may be appended to its report. Thereafter, the final report is submitted to the Central Government for consideration.

It is obvious that the success of the Commissions work in law reforms is dependent upon its capacity to consult widest section of the people/stakeholders and collecting data, views/suggestions and possible inputs from the public and concerned interest groups. The Commission is constantly on the lookout for strategies to accomplish this goal within the limited resources available to it.

The Commission always welcomes suggestions from any person, institution or organization on the issues under consideration.

Since the establishment of the First Law Commission, 289 Reports on various issues have been submitted so far.

2. The norms set by it for the discharge of its functions.

   The Law Commission of India functions within its terms of reference as enumerated above. In so far as the administration side of the Commission’s operations is concerned, it functions in accordance with the various Central Civil Services Rules and other Rules applicable to the Central Government employees. It is also guided by various manuals/circulars etc. issued by various Ministries/Departments of the Government of India.

3. The rules, regulations, instructions, manuals and records held by it and are under its control as used by its employees for discharging its functions:

   In the discharge of its functions, the Law Commission of India uses for research purposes various Central and State Acts, Rules, Codes, Rules Regulations, etc. It also uses various judgements of the Supreme Court of India and of High Courts. Laws of other countries, Judgements of foreign courts and International Courts are also used. Various Reports of Commissions, Committees etc, are also considered.In so far as the administrative side of the Commission is concerned, it uses the following Rules in the discharge of its functions:-

   • Staff Car Rules
   • Medical Attendance Rules
   • CCS(CCA) Rules
   • CCS (Conduct) Rules
   • General Provident Fund Rules
   • Leave Travel Concession Rules
   • General Financial Rules
   • Delegation of Financial Power Rules
   • House Building Advance Rules
   • CCS(Revised Pay) Rules
   • Central Treasury Rules

   In addition various Manuals/Circulars etc issued by various Ministries/Departments of the Govt. of India, are also referred.

4. No internal transfer takes place in the Law Commission.

   A statement of the categories of documents that are held by it and are under its control :
   The Law Commission of India holds the following documents:-

   • Copies of Reports released by it
   • Parliament Questions related to Law Commission sent by Deptt. of Legal Affairs, Min. of Law & Justice and other Ministeries.
   • Correspondence with Ministries/Other Organisations, Departments, State Governments and letters/E-mails from individuals seeking information etc.
   • A statement of the Committees consisting of two or more persons constituted for its administrative purposes.

     The Chairman, Law Commission of India, convenes internal meetings of the Commission from time to time where the Member Secretary, Members and Law Officers of the Commission are present. Such meetings being internal in nature are not open to public.

     A directory of officers and employee’s

     Name	Designation	Telephone Number(Office)
     Justice K.T. Sankaran	Member	24654951
     Prof. (Dr.) Anand Paliwal	Member	24654953
     Prof. D.P. Verma	Member	24654955
     Dr. Reeta Vasishta	Member Secretary	24654954
     Mrs.Varsha Chandra	JS&LO	24635735,24654940
     Shri Raja Kar	Deputy Secretary	24654939
     Shri Atul Kumar Gupta	Deputy Law Officer	24616748,24654938
     Shri Neeraj Sagar	Principal Secretary Officer	24654954
     Shri Naresh Chhibber	Principal Secretary Officer	24654951
     Smt. Poonam Bajaj	Principal Private Secy.	24654955
     Smt. Dimple Kapoor	Principal Private Secy.	24654936
     Shri Amar Singh	Principal Private Secy.	24654953
     Smt. Suman Lata Bhatia	Principal Private Secy.	24635736
     Shri Om Prakash Garwa	Section Officer	24654936
     Smt. Nema Kanth	Assistant Section Officer	24654936
     Shri Arun Kumar	Assistant Section Officer	24654936
     Vacant	Assistant Library Information Officer	23072174
     Shri Gyan Chand	Junior Secretariat Assistant	24654936
     Shri Manohar Lal	Staff Car Driver	24654936
     Shri Diwakar Prasad	Staff Car Driver	24654936
     Shri Surbir Singh Bartwal	Staff Car Driver	24654936
     Shri Kamal	Staff Car Driver	24654936
     Shri Naveen Kumar	MTS	24654936
     Shri Sher Singh	MTS	24654936
     Shri Sunil Kumar	MTS	24654936
     Shri Sanjay Kumar	MTS	24654936
     Shri Atram Singh	MTS	24654936
     Shri Yogender Kumar Baitha	MTS	24654936
     Shri Ravinder Singh	MTS	24654936
     Shri Prem Joshi	MTS	24654936
     Shri Surender Singh	MTS	24654936
     Shri Satyabir Singh	MTS	24654936
     Shri Mishri Lal Baitha	MTS	24654936
     Shri Dharam Pal Negi	MTS	24654936
     Shri Ramesh Singh	MTS	24654936
     Shri Sunny	MTS	24654936
     Shri Kalu Ram Meena	MTS	24654936
     Shri Sahil Kumar	MTS	24654936

     The monthly remuneration received by each of its officers and employees, indicating the system of compensation as provided in its regulation :

     The detail of scale of pay of the officers and employees of the Law Commission of India and their Basic Pay are as per CCS revised pay rules 2016 as amended from time to time. They also receive allowances and other perquisites/benefits as admissible to Central Govt. Employees. In case the Chairman/Member, Law Commission of India is not a serving Judge of the Supreme Court of India/High Court, he will be entitled to allowances and other terms and conditions as are admissible to an officer of the Central Government getting equal pay.

     The monthly remuneration of the employees at Law Commission of India

     The name, designations and other particulars of the Appellate Authority

     The particulars of the Appellate Authority designated by the Law Commission of India, is given below:

      
     Name: Smt. Varsha Chandra
     Designation: Joint Secretary & Law Officer
     Office Address: Law Commission of India
     Room No.228
     2nd Floor, B-Wing, Lok Nayak Bhawan, Khan
     Market, New Delhi – 110003.
     Tel No. (Office) . 24635735, 24654940.

     The names, designations and other particulars of the Public Grievance Officer

     The particulars of the Public Grievance Officer designated by the Law Commission of India are given below:

     Name: Smt. Varsha Chandra
     Designation: Joint Secretary & Law Officer
     Office Address: Law Commission of India
     Room No.228
     2nd Floor, B-Wing, Lok Nayak Bhawan, Khan Market, New Delhi – 110003.
     Tel No. (Office) . 24635735, 24654940.

     Number of employees against whom disciplinary actions have been taken at Law Commission of India – 02

     The budget allocated to each of its agency, indicating the particulars of all plans, proposed expenditures and reports on disbursement made
     The budget allocated to the Law Commission of India for the Financial Year 2024-25 is Rs.13,80,00,000/-.The entire amount is “non-plan” and is meant to incur expenses on account of salary, wages, medical treatment, domestic and foreign official travel, office expenses etc. No budgetary allocation is made under “plan”, for the Commission.

     Foreign and Domestic tours of official of the rank of Joint Secretary and above

     The manner of execution of subsidy programmes, including the amounts allocated and the details of beneficiary of such programmes :
     No subsidy programmes are executed by the Law Commission of India and no amount is allocated to it for the purpose.

     No discretionary/Non-discretionary grants are provided by Law Commission of India to State Government(s) / NGOs / Other institutions.

     Particulars of concessions, permits or authorization granted by it :
     No concessions, permits or authorization are granted by the Law Commission of India.

     The particulars of any arrangement that exists for consultation with, or representation by the members of the public in relation to the formulation of its policy or implementation thereof:
     The working papers/consultation papers outlining the problems/issues under consideration of the Law Commission of India and suggesting matters deserving reforms, are sent out for circulation among the public and interested groups like Judges of the Supreme Court, High Courts and Lower Courts, Bar Associations, State Govts’ law enforcement agencies, media persons, NGOs and all stakeholders with a view to eliciting reactions and suggestions. Professional bodies and academic institutions are involved in the consultation process. Seminars/Workshops/Conference are also organized to elicit critical opinion on proposed strategies for reform based on the Working Papers/Consultation Papers.

     Various orders for the committees to be hyperlinked.

     Details in respect of the information available to or held by it, reduced in on electronic form:
     All Law Commission reports are available on the web-site lawcommissionofindia.nic.in in bilingual format

     The particulars of facilities available to citizens for obtaining information, including the working hours of a library or reading room, if maintained for public use.
     The citizens can obtain information from the Law Commission of India through correspondence, accessing its web-site and through e-mail. The library of the Law Commission is not meant for public use.
     Details of faculty (R&I Section):
     Name: Shri Atram Singh
     Designation: MTS
     Tel No. (Office) 24654936
     Office Address: 223, 2nd Floor, B-Wing, Lok Nayak Bhawan
     Working hours of the facility – 09:00 Hrs to 17:30 Hrs

     Such other information as may be prescribed:
     The Law Commission of India is engaged in research and recommends legal reforms. It is a pro-active organisation drawing upon the legal developments in India and abroad and endeavors to keep the Indian legal system always responsive to the changing socio-economic needs of a developing society.

     Receipt and Disposal of RTI applications and appeals

     Replies to questions asked in Parliament

     The names, designations and other particulars of the Public Information Officers
     The particulars of the Public Information Officer designated by the Law Commission of India are given below:

     (i). Name: Shri Atul Kumar Gupta
     Designation: Deputy Law Officer
     Office Address: Law Commission of India
     Room No. 231-E
     2nd Floor, B-Wing, Lok Nayak Bhawan, Khan Market, New Delhi – 110003.
     Tel No. (Office) 24616748, 24654938.
     (ii). Name: Shri Raja Kar
     Designation: Deputy Secretary
     Office Address: Law Commission of India
     Room No. 231 D
     2nd Floor, B-Wing, Lok Nayak Bhawan, Khan Market, New Delhi – 110003.
     Tel No. (Office) .24654939.

      

   Details of Nodal Officer

   Name: Smt. Varsha Chandra
   Designation: Joint Secretary & Law Officer
   Office Address: Law Commission of India
   Room No.228
   2nd Floor, B-Wing, Lok Nayak Bhawan, Khan Market, New Delhi – 110003.
   Tel No. (Office) . 24635735, 24654940.

   • Information disclosed on own initiative
     The administrative side of the Commission maintains files relating to the following:

     • Appointments
     • Personal files and service book (including leave account) of its employees
     • Court related litigation files
     • Training
     • Continuation of temporary posts
     • Conferences / Seminars in India and abroad
     • Staff Cars
     • Purchase and maintenance of air-conditioners, room coolers, heaters, photo copiers, vacuum cleaners, computers, printers, UPS etc
     • Electricity and Water bills
     • CPWD complaints
     • Dry cleaning and washing
     • Engagement of casual labour
     • Circulars
     • Republic Day & Independence Day Celebration
     • Library matters
     • Purchase and distribution of stationery items
     • Purchase and distribution of uniforms
     • Maintenance of Annual Confidence Reports
     • Other Miscellaneous matters