Government Constitutes 23rd Law Commission with Provision for Appointing Sitting Judges

The government has officially constituted the 23rd Law Commission for a three-year term, with provisions allowing for the appointment of sitting supreme court and high court judges as chairperson and members.

The 22nd Law Commission's term concluded on august 31. According to a recent gazette notification from the law ministry, the new commission will include a full-time chairperson, four full-time members, and the member-secretary. Additionally, the secretaries of the Department of Legal Affairs and the Legislative Department will serve as ex-officio members. The commission can have up to five part-time members.

Serving judges appointed as chairperson or members will perform their duties full-time until their retirement or the commission's term ends, whichever comes first. This period will be counted as "actual service." For non-judicial appointees, the chairperson will receive a fixed salary of Rs 2.50 lakh per month, while members will earn Rs 2.25 lakh per month. Retired individuals, including judges, will have their salaries adjusted based on their previous pension or retirement benefits, not exceeding the same amounts.

The 22nd Law Commission, which concluded its term on august 31 and was recently led by Justice (retd) Ritu raj Awasthi, had not appointed a new chairperson for several months. Key reports on the uniform civil code and simultaneous elections are pending, with the latter ready but awaiting submission in the absence of a chairperson.

Justice Awasthi has since been appointed to the Lokpal, and the 22nd commission had been working on the draft of a report on the uniform civil code following consultations with various societal groups. The report on "one nation, one election" submitted by a high-level committee led by former President ram nath kovind in march remains a significant development in this context.
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Balasahana Suresh

03/09/2024 05:57 PM