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    Suo Moto Disclosure

    Updated as on 07.09.2022

    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.
      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:
    Law Commission Year Name of the Chairman
    Second Law Commission 1958-61 Mr. Justice T. L. Venkatarama Aiyar.
    Third Law Commission 1961-64 Mr. Justice J. L. Kapur
    Fourth Law Commission 1964-68 Mr. Justice J. L. Kapur
    Fifth Law Commission 1968-71 Mr. K. V. K. Sundaram, I. C. S.
    Sixth Law Commission 1971-74 Mr. Justice Dr. P. B. Gajendragadkar
    Seventh Law Commission 1974-77 Mr. Justice Dr. P. B. Gajendragadkar
    Eighth Law Commission 1977-79 Mr. Justice H. R. Khanna
    Ninth Law Commission 1979-80 Mr. Justice P. V. Dixit
    Tenth Law Commission 1981-85 Mr. Justice K. K. Mathew
    Eleventh Law Commission 1985-88 Mr. Justice D. A. Desai
    Twelfth Law Commission 1988-91 Mr. Justice M. P. Thakkar
    Thirteenth Law Commission 1991-94 Mr. Justice K. N. Singh
    Fourteenth Law Commission 1995-97 Mr. Justice K Jayachandra Reddy
    Fifteenth Law Commission 1997-2000 Mr. Justice B. P. Jeevan Reddy
    Sixteenth Law Commission 2000-2001
    2002-2003
    Mr. Justice B. P. Jeevan ReddyMr. Justice M. Jagannadha Rao
    Seventeenth Law Commission 2003-2006 Mr. Justice M. Jagannadha Rao
    Eighteenth Law Commission 2006-2009 Dr. Justice. AR. Lakshmanan
    Nineteenth Law Commission 2009-2012 Mr. Justice P.V. Reddi
    Twentieth Law Commission 2012-2013

    2013-2015

    Mr. Justice D.K. Jain
    Mr. Justice A.P.Shah
    Twenty First Law Commission 2015-2018 Dr. Justice B.S. Chauhan
    Twenty Second Law Commission 2020-2023 Mr. Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi
    1. The Twenty Second Law Commission has been notified with effect from 21st February, 2020 for a term of 3 years.
    2. 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.

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

      The Ministry of Law & Justice makes references to the Commission from time to time on subjects relating to Law reform and judicial administration. The Supreme Court/High Courts also make references to the Commission involving in-depth examination of any legal issue or subjects. The Commission also takes up subject suo- moto under the Terms of 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.

      The draft Report is written either by the Member-Secretary or one of the Members or the Chairman of the Commission. It is then subjected to close scrutiny by the full Commission in meetings. 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 forwarded to the Government.

      Since the establishment of the First Law Commission, 277 Reports on various issues have been submitted so far.

      The Reports of the Law Commission are laid in Parliament from time to time. The Ministry of Law & Justice, forward the Reports to the concerned administrative Ministries. They are cited in Courts, in academic and public discussions and are acted upon by concerned Government Ministries/Departments depending on the Government’s decisions.

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

      The Law Commission of India functions within its terms of reference as enumerated in item No. (i) above. The modalities followed by it have also been enumerated in item No.(iii) 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.

    5. 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 used.

    6. 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
      • Correspondence with Ministries/Other Organisations, Departments, State Governments and letters/E-mails from individuals seeking information etc.

      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
    7. 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.
    8. A statement of the boards, councils, committees and other bodies consisting of two or more persons constituted as its part or for the purpose of its advise, and as to whether meetings of those boards, councils, committees and other bodies are open to public, or the minutes of such meetings are accessible for public:

      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.

    9. A directory of officers and employee’s

      Name Designation Telephone Number(Office)
      Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi Hon’ble Chairperson 24654951
      Justice K.T. Sankaran Member 24654954
      Prof. (Dr.) Anand Paliwal Member 24654953
      Prof. D.P. Verma Member 24654955
      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. Haminder Kaur Principal Private Secy. 24654953
      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
    10. 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.
    11. 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 2022- 23 is Rs. 7,70,00,000/-.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.
    12. 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.

    13. Particulars of concessions, permits or authorization granted by it :
      No concessions, permits or authorization are granted by the Law Commission of India.
    14. Details in respect of the information available to or held by it, reduced in on electronic form:
      The Law Commission of India accesses information from the web-sites of its counterpart Law Reform Commissions Agencies in other countries, State Law Commissions, various Courts, Legal Research Institutions, Ministries/Departments of the Govt. of India, law reports in electronic form etc.

      The Law Commission of India has its own web-site lawcommissionofindia.nic.in which enlists all the Reports of the Commission, its various Consultation/Discussion Papers released, current reports placed on table of both Houses of Parliament and some important reports.

    15. 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.
    16. 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.

    17. 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.

       

    18. 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.

       

    19. 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.