After a delay of more than six months, the government has appointed ex-judge of Supreme Court BS Chauhan as the chairperson of the 21st Law Commission. The post has been lying vacant since last September when the commission was constituted. Law Minister Sadananda Gowda had said that the ministry will appoint the chairperson by the end of this week. One of the key issues before the law panel is a call on amending the Indian Penal Code amid allegations of abuse and arbitrary use of the law.

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The terms of reference include examining and suggesting laws for the poor, improving quality of administering justice, suggesting laws which could implement the directive principles of state policy and the preamble, recommending amendments to existing laws to bring gender equality and repealing obsolete laws (an electoral promise).

The 20th Law Commission, under justice AP Shah, did some exemplary work with 19 reports over the course of two years. This included reports and recommendations on arbitration law, death penalty, commercial courts and electoral reforms. Of these, commercial courts and amendments to arbitration law have already been passed as laws.

Did You Know?

• Law Commission of India is an executive body established by an order of the Government of India.
• Its major function is to work for legal reform. Its membership primarily comprises legal experts, who are entrusted a mandate by the Government.
• The Commission is established for a fixed tenure and works as an advisory body to theMinistry of Law and Justice.
• The first Law Commission was established during the British regime in 1834 by the Charter Act of 1833.