First Law Commission

The first Law Commission of independent India was established in 1955. The Chairman of this
Commission was Mr. M. C. Setalvad, who was also the First Attorney General of India. The
term of this Commission was established as three years (which by convention has been followed
till date) and this Commission submitted its last report on 16 September 1958. The reports
submitted by the First Law Commission of India are as under;[8]

Report Date of
Title of Report
No. Presentation
1 11 May 1956 Liability of the State in Tort
2 2 July 1956 Parliamentary Legislation relating to Sales Tax
3 21 July 1956 Limitation Act, 1908
On the proposal that High Courts should sit in Benches at different
4 1 August 1956
places in a State
5 11 May 1957 British Statutes Applicable to India
6 13 July 1957 Registration Act, 1908
7 13 July 1957 Partnership Act, 1932
8 1 March 1958 Sale of Goods Act, 1930
9 19 July 1958 Specific Relief Act, 1877
26 September
10 Law of Acquisition and Requisitioning of Law
1958
26 September
11 Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881
1958
26 September
12 Income Tax Act, 1922
1958
26 September
13 Contract Act, 1872
1958
16 September
14 Reform of Judicial Administration
1958

Second Law Commission

The Second Law Commission was established in 1958 under the Chairmanship of Justice T. V.
Venkatarama Aiyar. It stayed in office till 1961.[9] It presented the following reports;[10]

Report No. Presented in Title of Report

15 1960 Law relating to Marriage and Divorce amongst Christians in India
16 1960 Official Trustees Act, 1913
17 1961 Report on Trusts Act, 1882
18 1961 Converts’ Marriage Dissolution Act, 1866
19 1961 The Administrator-General's Act, 1913
20 1961 The Law of Hire-Purchase
21 1961 Marine Insurance
22 1961 Christian Marriage and Matrimonial Causes Bill,1961

Third Law Commission

The Third Law Commission was established in 1961 under the Chairmanship of Justice J. L.
Kapur. It stayed in office till 1964.[9] It presented the following reports;[11]

Report Presented
Title of Report
No. in
23 1962 Law of Foreign Marriages
24 1962 The Commission of Inquiry Act, 1952
Evidence of Officers about forged stamps, currency notes, etc. Section
25 1963
509-A Cr.P.C. as proposed
26 1964 Insolvency Laws
27 1964 The Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
28 1964 The Indian Oaths Act, 1873

Fourth Law Commission

The Fourth Law Commission was established in 1964 and was again under the Chairmanship of
Justice J. L. Kapur. It stayed in office till 1968.[9] It presented the following reports;

Report Presented
Title of Report
No. in
Proposal to include certain Social and Economic Offences in the
29 1967
Indian Penal Code, 1860
Section 5 of the Central Sales Tax Act, 1956, taxation by the States in
30 1967
the course of import
Section 30(2) of the Indian Registration Act, 1908 - Extension to
31 1967
Delhi
32 1967 Section 9 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898
33 1967 Section 44 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898
34 1967 Indian Registration Act, 1908
35 1967 Capital Punishment
36 1967 Section 497, 498 and 499 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898
37 1967 The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898
38 1968 Indian Post Office Act, 1898

Fifth Law Commission

The Fifth Law Commission was established in 1968 under the Chairmanship of Mr. K. V. K.
Sundaram. It stayed in office till 1971.[9] It presented the following reports;

Report No. Presented in Title of Report

39 1968 Punishment for imprisonment for life under the Indian Penal Code
40 1969 Law relating to attendance of Prisoners in Courts
41 1969 The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898
42 1971 Indian Penal Code
43 1971 Offences against the National Security
44 1971 The Appellate Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court in Civil Matters

Sixth Law Commission

The Sixth Law Commission was established in 1971 under the Chairmanship of Justice P. B.
Gajendragadkar. It stayed in office till 1974. It presented the following reports;

Report Presented
Title of Report
No. in
45 1971 Civil Appeals to the Supreme Court on a Certificate of Fitness
46 1971 The Constitution (Twenty-Fifth Amendment) Bill, 1971
47 1972 The trial and punishment of Social and Economic Offences
48 1972 Some questions under the Code of Criminal Procedure Bill, 1970
49 1972 The proposal for inclusion of agricultural income in the total income
The proposal to include persons connected with the Public examination
50 1972
within the definition of 'Public Servant'
51 1972 Compensation of injuries caused by automobiles in hit-and-run cases
52 1972 Estate duty on property acquired after death
Effect of the Pensions Act, 1871 on the right to sue for pensions of
53 1972
retired members of public service
54 1973 The Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
Rate of Interest after decree and interest on costs under Section 34
55 1973
and 35 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
Statutory Provision as to the Notice of Suit other than Section 80,
56 1973
Civil Procedure Code, 1908
57 1973 Benami Transactions
58 1974 Stature and Jurisdiction of the Higher Judiciary
59 1974 Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 and Special Marriage Act, 1954
60 1974 The General Clauses Act, 1897
Certain problems with the power of the States to levy a tax on the sale of
61 1974
goods

Seventh Law Commission

The Seventh Law Commission was established in 1974 again under the Chairmanship of Justice
P. B. Gajendragadkar. It stayed in office till 1977.[9] It presented the following reports;

Report No. Presented in Title of Report

62 1974 Workmen's Compensation Act, 1923
63 1975 The Interest Act, 1839
64 1975 The Suppression of Immoral Traffic in Women and Girls Act, 1956
65 1976 Recognition of Foreign Divorces
66 1976 Married Women's Property Act, 1874
67 1977 The Indian Stamp Act, 1899
68 1977 The Power of Attorney Act, 1882
69 1977 The Indian Evidence Act, 1872
70 1977 The Transfer of Property Act, 1882

Eighth Law Commission

The Eighth Law Commission was established in 1977 under the Chairmanship of Justice H. R.
Khanna. It stayed in office till 1979.[9] It presented the following reports;

Report Presented
Title of Report
No. in
71 1978 Irretrievable breakdown of marriage as a ground for divorce
72 1978 Restriction on practice after being a permanent judge
Criminal liability for failure by husband to pay maintenance or permanent
73 1978
alimony granted to the wife
Proposal to amend the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 so as to render
74 1978 Admissible certain statements made by witnesses before Commissions
of Inquiry and other Statutory Authorities
75 1978 Disciplinary jurisdiction under the Advocates Act, 1961
76 1978 Arbitration Act, 1940
77 1979 Delay and arrears in trial courts
78 1979 Congestion of under trial persons in jails
79 1979 Delays and arrears in High Courts and other Appellate Courts
80 1979 Method of Appointment of Judges

Ninth Law Commission

The Ninth Law Commission was established in 1979 under the Chairmanship of Justice P. V.
Dixit. It stayed in office till 1980.[9] It presented the following reports;

Report Presented
Title of Report
No. in
81 1979 Hindu Widows Remarriage Act, 1856
82 1980 Effect of nomination under Section 39, Insurance Act, 1938
83 1980 The Guardian and Wards Act, 1890
Rape and allied offences-some questions of substantive law,
84 1980
procedure and evidence
Claims for compensation under Chapter 8 of the Motor Vehicles
85 1980
Act, 1939
86 1980 The Partition Act, 1893
87 1980 Identification of Prisoners Act, 1920

Tenth Law Commission

The Tenth Law Commission was established in 1981 under the Chairmanship of Justice K. K.
Mathew. It stayed in office till 1985.[9] It presented the following reports;

Report
Presented in Title of Report
No.
88 1983 Governmental Privileges in Evidence
89 1983 The Limitation Act, 1963
90 1983 The Grounds for Divorce amongst Christians in India
91 1983 Dowry deaths and law reform
Damages in applications for Judicial Review Recommendations for
92 1983
legislation
93 1983 Disclosures of sources of information by mass media
94 1983 Evidence obtained illegally or improperly
95 1984 Constitutional Division within Supreme Court
96 1984 Repeal of certain obsolete Central Acts
Section 28 of the Indian Contract Act, 1872: prescriptive clauses in
97 1984
contracts
98 1984 Sections 24 to 26 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955
99 1984 Oral and written arguments in the Higher courts
100 1984 Litigation by and against the Government
101 1984 Freedom of Speech and Expression under Article 19 of the Constitution
102 1984 Section 122(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973
103 1984 Unfair Terms in contracts
104 1984 The Judicial Officers' Protection Act, 1850
105 1984 Quality control and inspection of consumer goods
106 1984 Section 103A, Motor Vehicles Act, 1939
107 1984 Law of Citizenship
108 1984 Promissory Estoppel
109 1985 Obscene and Indecent Advertisements and Displays
110 1985 Indian Succession Act, 1925
111 1985 Fatal Incidents Act, 1955
112 1985 Section 45 of the Insurance Act, 1938
113 1985 Injuries in Police Custody

Eleventh Law Commission

The Eleventh Law Commission was established in 1985 under the Chairmanship of Justice D. A.
Desai. It stayed in office till 1988.[9] It presented the following reports;

Report No. Presented in Title of Report

114 1986 Gram Nyayalaya
115 1986 Tax Courts
116 1986 Formation of an All India Judicial Service
117 1986 Training of Judicial Officers
118 1986 Method of appointment to subordinate courts
119 1987 Access to Exclusive Forum for victims of motor accidents
120 1987 Manpower planning in Judiciary
121 1987 A new forum for Judicial Appointments
122 1987 Forum for National uniformity in Labour Adjudication
123 1988 Decentralization in Administration of Justice
124 1988 The High Court Arrears - A fresh look
125 1988 The Supreme Court - A fresh look
Government and Public Sector Undertaking Litigation policy and
126 1988
Strategies
Resource Allocation for Infra-Structural Services in Judicial
127 1988
Administration
128 1988 Cost of Litigation
129 1988 Urban Litigation - Mediation as alternative to Litigation
130 1988 Benami Transactions : A continuum
131 1988 Role of legal profession in Administration of Justice

Twelfth Law Commission

The Twelfth Law Commission was established in 1988 under the Chairmanship of Justice M. P.
Thakkar. It stayed in office till 1989.[9] It presented the following reports;

Report Presented
Title of Report
No. in
Need for Amendment of the Provisions of the Chapter IX of the Code of
132 1989 Criminal Procedure, 1973 in order to ameliorate the hardship and mitigate
the distress of Neglected Women, Children and Parents
Removal of discrimination against Women in matters relating to
133 1989 Guardianship and Custody of Minor Children and Elaboration of the
Welfare Principle
Removing Deficiencies in certain provisions of the Workmen's
134 1989
Compensation Act, 1923
135 1989 Women in Custody
Conflicts in High Court decisions on Central Laws - How to foreclose and
136 1990
how to resolve
137 1990 Need for creating office of Ombudsman
138 1990 Legislative Protection for Slum and Pavement Dwellers
139 1991 Urgent need to amend Order XXI, Rule 92(2), Civil Procedure Code, 1908
140 1991 Need to amend Order V, Rule 19A of the Civil Procedure Code, 1908
Need for amending the laws as regards power of courts to resolve criminal
141 1991 revisional applications and criminal cases dismissed for default in
appearance
Confessional treatment for offenders who on their own initiative choose to
142 1991
plead guilty without any bargaining
143 1991 Legislative safeguards for protecting the small depositors from exploitation

Thirteenth Law Commission

The Thirteenth Law Commission was established in 1991 under the Chairmanship of Justice K.
N. Singh. It stayed in office till 1994.[9] It presented the following reports;[12]

Report Presented
Title of Report
No. in
Conflicting Judicial decisions pertaining to the Code of Civil Procedure,
144 1992
1908
145 1992 Article 12 of the Constitution and Public Sector Undertakings
Sale of Women and Children: Proposed Section 373-A, Indian Penal
146 1993
Code
147 1993 The Specific Relief Act, 1963
148 1993 Repeal of Certain pre-1947 Central Acts
Removal of certain deficiencies in the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (Act
149 1994
No. 59 of 1988)
Suggesting some Amendments to the Code of Civil Procedure (Act No.
150 1994
V of 1908)
151 1994 Admiralty Jurisdiction
152 1994 Custodial Crimes
153 1994 Inter-Country Adoption

Fourteenth Law Commission

The Fourteenth Law Commission was established in 1995 under the Chairmanship of Justice K.
Jayachandra Reddy. It stayed in office till 1997.[9] It presented the following reports;[13]

Report Date of
Title of Report
No. Presentation
154 22 August 1996 The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (Act No. 2 of 1974)
The Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985(Act
155 12 July 1997
No. 61 of 1985)
156 30 August 1997 The Indian Penal Code
Fifteenth Law Commission

The Fifteenth Law Commission was established in 1997 under the Chairmanship of Justice B. P.
Jeevan Reddy. It stayed in office till 2000.[9] It presented the following reports;[14]

Report Presented
Title of Report
No. in
157 1998 Section 52:Transfer of Property Act, 1882 and its Amendment
The Amendment of the Industries (Development and Regulation) Act,
158 1998
1951
159 1998 Repeal and Amendment of Laws: Part I
Amendment to the All India Council for Technical Education Act, 1987
160 1998
(Act No. 52 of 1987)
161 1998 Central Vigilance Commission and Allied Bodies
Review of functioning of Central Administrative Tribunal, Customs,
162 1998 Excise and Gold (Control) Appellate Tribunal and Income-Tax Appellate
Tribunal
163 1998 The Code of Civil Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 1997
164 1998 The Indian Divorce Act, 1869 (Act IV of 1869)
165 1998 Free and Compulsory Education for Children
166 1999 The Corrupt Public Servants (forfeiture of property) Bill
167 1999 The Patents (Amendment) Bill, 1998
168 1999 The Hire-Purchase Act,1972
169 1999 Amendment of Army, Navy and Air Force Act
170 1999 Reform of Electoral Laws
171 2000 The Biodiversity Bill, 2000
172 2000 Review of Rape Laws
173 2000 Prevention of Terrorism Bill, 2000
174 2000 Property Rights of Women: Proposed Reforms Under the Hindu Law

Sixteenth Law Commission

The Sixteenth Law Commission was established in 2000. For the period till 2001 Justice B. P.
Jeevan Reddy continued as the Chairman of the Commission while in the period between 2002
and 2003 the Commission worked under the Chairmanship of Justice M. Jagannadha Rao. [9] It
presented the following reports;[15]

Report Presented
Title of Report
No. in
175 2000 The Foreigners (Amendment) Bill, 2000
176 2001 The Arbitration and conciliation (Amendment) Bill, 2002
177 2001 Law Relating to Arrest
Recommendations for amending various enactments, both civil and
178 2001
criminal
179 2001 Public Interest Disclosure and Protection of Informers
180 2002 Article 20 (3) of the Constitution of India and Right to Silence
181 2002 Amendment to Section 106 of the Transfer of Property Act, 1882
182 2002 Amendment of Section 6 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894
A Continuum on the General Clauses Act, 1897 with special reference to
183 2002 the admissibility and codification of external aids to interpretation of
statutes
Legal Education & Professional Training and Proposals for amendments to
184 2002
the Advocates Act, 1961 and the University Grants Commission Act, 1956
185 2003 Review of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872

Seventeenth Law Commission

The Seventeenth Law Commission was established in 2003 and continued to be under the
Chairmanship of Justice M. Jagannadha Rao. It stayed in office till 2006.[9] It presented the
following reports;[16]

Report Presented
Title of Report
No. in
186 2003 Proposal to Constitute Environment Courts
187 2003 Mode of Execution of Death Sentence and Incidental Matters
The Proposals for Constitution of Hi-Tech Fast - Track Commercial
188 2003
Divisions in High Courts
189 2004 Revision of Court Fees Structure
The Revision of the Insurance Act, 1938 and the Insurance Regulatory
190 2004
and Development Authority Act, 1999
191 2004 Regulation of Funds collected for Calamity Relief.
192 2005 Prevention of vexatious Litigation
193 2005 Transnational Litigation, Conflict of Laws, Law of Limitation
194 2005 Verification of Stamp Duties and Registration of Arbitral Awards
195 2006 The Judges (Inquiry) Bill, 2005
Medical Treatment to Terminally Ill Patients (Protection of Patients and
196 2006
Medical Practitioners)
197 2006 Public Prosecutor's Appointments
198 2006 Witness Identity Protection and Witness Protection Programmes
199 2006 Unfair (Procedural and Substantive) Terms in Contracts
Trial by Media : Free Speech Vs. Fair Trial Under Criminal Procedure
200 2006
(Amendments to the Contempt of Court Act, 1971)
Medical Treatment after Accidents and During Emergency Medical
201 2006
Condition and Women in Labour

Eighteenth Law Commission

The Eighteenth Law Commission of India was established on 1 September 2006 and continued
till 31 August 2009. Justice M. Jagannadha Rao continued to serve as the Chairman of the
Commission until 28 May 2007 on which date Justice A. R. Lakshmanan was appointed as the
Chairman of the Commission. It presented the following reports;

Report Date of
Title of Report
No. Presentation
202 9 October 2007 Proposal to Amend Section 304-B of the Indian Penal Code
Section 438 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 as Amended by
26 December
203 the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Act, 2005 (Anticipatory
2007
Bail)
Proposal to Amend the Hindu Succession Act, 1956 as amended by
204 5 February 2008
Act 39 of 2005
Proposal to Amend the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 and
205 5 February 2008
other allied Laws
Proposal for enactment of new Coroners Act applicable to the whole of
206 10 June 2008
India
Proposal to amend Section 15 of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956 in
207 10 June 2008 case a female dies intestate leaving herself acquired property with no
heirs
Proposal for the amendment of explanation to Section 6 of the Hindu
208 30 July 2008 Succession Act, 1956 to include oral partition and family arrangement
on the definition of 'partition'
Proposal for the omission of Section 213 from the Indian Succession
209 30 July 2008
Act, 1925
17 October
210 Humanization and Decriminalization of Attempt to Suicide
2008
17 October Laws on Registration of Marriages and Divorce - A proposal for
211
2008 Consolidation and Reform
17 October Laws of Civil Marriage in India - A proposal to Resolve Certain
212
2008 Conflicts
24 November
213 Fast Track Magisterial Courts for Dishonoured Cheque Cases
2008
21 November Proposal for reconsideration of Judges Case I, II and III - S P Gupta
214
2008 Vs, UOI
17 December
215 L. Chandra Kumar be revisited by Larger Bench of Supreme Court
2008
17 December Non-Feasibility of introduction of Hindi as compulsory language in the
216
2008 Supreme Court of India
217 30 March 2009 Irretrievable Breakdown of Marriage – Another Ground for Divorce
Need to accede to the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of
218 30 March 2009
International Child Abduction (1980)
219 30 March 2009 Need for Family Law Legislations for Non-resident Indians
220 30 March 2009 Need to fix Maximum Chargeable Court-fees in Subordinate Civil
Courts
221 30 April 2009 Need for Speedy Justice – Some Suggestions
222 30 April 2009 Need for Justice-dispensation through ADR etc.
Need for Ameliorating the lot of the Have-nots - Supreme Court's
223 30 April 2009
judgments
Amendment of Section 2 of the Divorce Act 1869 Enabling Non-
224 2009
domiciled Estranged Christian Wives to seek Divorce.
Amendment of Sections 7, 7A, and 7B of Industrial Disputes Act 1947
Making Advocates Eligible to man Labour Courts and Industrial
225 2009 Tribunals.

2009
The Inclusion of Acid Attacks as Specific Offences in the Indian Penal
226 2009
Code and a Law for Compensation for Victims of Crime.
Preventing Bigamy via Conversion to Islam - A Proposal for giving
227 2009
Statutory Effect to Supreme Court Rulings
Need For Legislation to Regulate Assisted Reproductive Technology
228 2009
Clinics as Well as Rights and Obligations of Parties to a Surrogacy
Need for division of the Supreme Court into a Constitution Bench at
229 2009 Delhi and Cassation Benches in four regions at Delhi, Chennai/
Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai
230 2009 Reforms in the Judiciary – Some suggestions
Amendments in Indian Stamp Act 1899 And Court-Fees Act 1870
231 2009
Permitting Different Modes of Payment
Retirement Age of Chairpersons and Members of Tribunals – Need for
232 2009
Uniformity
Amendment of Code of Criminal Procedure Enabling Restoration of
233 2009
Complaints
234 2009 Legal Reforms to Combat Road Accidents

Nineteenth Law Commission

The nineteenth Law Commission of India's Chairman was Chairman Mr. Justice P. V. Reddi,
2009-2012 of 19th Law Comiission.[17]

Report Presented
Title of Report
No. in
235 2010 Conversion/reconversion to another religion - mode of proof
236 2010 Court-fees in Supreme Court vis-à-vis Corporate Litigation
237 2011 Compounding of (IPC) offences
Amendment of Section 89 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 and Allied
238 2011
provisions
Expeditious Investigation and Trial of Criminal Cases Against 2012
239 2012
Influential Public Personalities
240 2012 Costs in Civil Litigation
241 2012 Passive Euthanasia - A Relook
Prevention of Interference with the freedom of Matrimonial Alliances 2012
242 2012
(in the name of Honour and Tradition ) : A suggested legal framework
243 2012 Section 498 A, IPC

Twentieth Law Commission

The Twentieth Law Commission of India's Chairman were Justice D. K. Jain from January 2013
to October 2013 and Justice A. P. Shah from November 2013 to August 2015 [18]. The Terms of
Reference of the Twentieth Law Commission were as follows:- A. Review/Repeal of obsolete
laws: (i) Identify laws which are no longer needed or relevant and can be immediately repealed.
(ii) Identify laws which are not in harmony with the existing climate of economic liberalization
and need change. (iii) Identify laws which otherwise require changes or amendments and to
make suggestions for their amendment. (iv) Consider in a wider perspective the suggestions for
revision/amendment given by Expert Groups in various Ministries/Departments with a view to
coordinating and harmonising them. (v) Consider references made to it by Ministries/
Departments in respect of legislation having bearing on the working of more than one Ministry/
Department. (vi) Suggest suitable measures for quick redressal of citizens grievances, in the field
of law. B. Law and Poverty (i) Examine the Laws which affect the poor and carry out post-audit
for socio-economic legislations. (ii) Take all such measures as may be necessary to harness law
and the legal process in the service of the poor. C. 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: (i) elimination of delays, speedy clearance of arrears and reduction in costs
so as to secure quick and economical disposal of cases without affecting the cardinal principle
that decisions should be just and fair. (ii) simplification of procedure to reduce and eliminate
technicalities and devices for delay so that it operates not as an end in itself but as a means of
achieving justice. (iii) improvement of standards of all concerned with the administration of
justice. D. 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. E. Examine the existing laws with a view for promoting gender
equality and suggesting amendments thereto. F. Revise the Central Acts of general importance so
as to simplify them and to remove anomalies, ambiguities and inequities. G. Recommend to the
Government measure for making the statute book up to date by repealing obsolete laws and
enactments or parts thereof which have outlived their utility. H. Consider and to 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 Ministry of Law and Justice (Department
of Legal Affairs). I. Consider the requests for providing research to any foreign countries as may
be referred to it by the Government through Ministry of Law & Justice (Department of Legal
Affairs). J. Examine the impact of globalization on food security, unemployment and
recommend measures for the protection of the interests of the marginalized.

Report Presented
Title of Report
No. in
244 2014 Electoral Disqualifications
245 2014 Arrears and Backlog: Creating Additional Judicial (wo)manpower
246 2014 Amendments to the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996
247 2014 Sections 41 to 48 of the Indian Succession Act,1925 – Proposed Reforms
248 2014 Obsolete Laws: Warranting Immediate Repeal (Interim Report)
249 2014 Obsolete Laws: Warranting Immediate Repeal (Second Interim Report)
250 2014 Obsolete Laws: Warranting Immediate Repeal (Third Interim Report)
251 2014 Obsolete Laws: Warranting Immediate Repeal (Fourth Interim Report)
Right of the Hindu Wife to Maintenance: A relook at Section 18 of the
252 2015
Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, 1956
Commercial Division and Commercial Appellate Division of High Courts
253 2015
and Commercial Courts Bill, 2015
254 2015 The Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, 2013
255 2015 Electoral Reforms
256 2015 Eliminating Discrimination Against Persons Affected by Leprosy
257 2015 Reforms in Guardianship and Custody Laws in India
Prevention of Bribery of Foreign Public Officials and Officials of Public
258 2015
International Organisations – A Study and Proposed Amendments
259 2015 Early Childhood Development and Legal Entitlement
260 2015 Analysis of the 2015 Draft Model Indian Bilateral Investment Treaty
261 2015 Need to Regulate Pet Shops and Dog and Aquarium Fish Breeding
262 2015 The Death Penalty

Twenty-First Law Commission

In 2015, the Law Ministry had forwarded a list of 48 former judges of high courts and Supreme
Court to the Prime Minister’s Office to select the next Law Commission Chairperson. The term
of the 20th Law Commission ended on August 30 last year and the Union Cabinet approved
creation of the 21st Law Commission on September 9. The Law Ministry brought out a
notification to create the 21st law panel on September 14 last.

One of the key issues pending before the law panel is a call on amending the Indian Penal Code
amid allegations of abuse and arbitrary use of the law. The Law Ministry had urged the
Commission to study the usage of the provisions of Section 124A (Sedition) of the IPC.

Former Supreme Court judge Balbir Singh Chauhan was appointed Chairman of the 21st Law
Commission. Mr. Justice Ravi R. Tripathi, retired judge of the Gujarat High Court was appointed
as Full-time Member.[19]

On 10 June 2016, Mr. Satya Pal Jain, Additional Solicitor General of India was appointed as
Part-time Member of the Commission.[20]

Report Presented
Title of Report
No. in
263 2016 The Protection of Children (Inter-Country Removal and Retention) Bill
The Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill (Provisions dealing with Food
264 2017
Adulteration)
Prospects of Exempting Income arising out of Maintenance Money of
265 2017
'Minor'
266 2017 The Advocates Act, 1961 (Regulation of Legal Profession)
267 2017 Hate Speech
Amendments to Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 – Provisions Relating
268 2017
to Bail

A code for Succession and

Code of Civil
Penal Code (2 May Inheritance for Indians Code of Negotiable
Procedure and Law
1837) other than Hindus and Instruments (1881)
of Limitation (1859)
Muslims (1865)
Lex Loci (role and
authority of English Code on Trusts Law
Penal Code (1860) Draft Contract Law (1866)
law in India) (31 (1882)
October 1840)
Code on Transfer of
Code of Criminal Draft Negotiable Instruments
- Property and
Procedure (1861) Law (1867)
Easements (1882)
Revised Code of
- - Draft Evidence Law (1868) Criminal Procedure
(1882)
Revised Code of
Revision of Code of Criminal
- - Civil Procedure
Procedure (1870)
(1882)
Draft Transfer of Property
- - -
Law (1870)
Draft Code on Insurance
- -
(1871)

A Two-member Viceroy's Executive Council (composed of Sir Henry Maine and Sir James
Fitzjames Stephen) also worked on the side-lines of the Law Commissions and ensured the
passage of the following noteworthy laws;[7]

 1863 - Religious Endowments Act

 1864 - Official Trustees Act
 1865 - Carriers Act
 1865 - Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act
 1865 - Parsi Intestate Succession Act
 1866 - Indian Companies Act
 1866 - Native Converts Marriage Dissolution Act
 1866 - Trustees Act
 1866 - Trustees and Mortgage Powers Act
 1867 - Press and Registration of Books Act
 1868 - General Clauses Act
 1869 - Divorce Act
 1870 - Court Fees Act
 1870 - Land Acquisition Act
 1870 - Female Infanticide Act
 1870 - Female Infanticide Prevention Act
 1870 - Hindu Wills Act
 1872 - Code of Criminal Procedure (revised)
 1872 - Indian Contract Act
 1872 - Indian Evidence Act
 1872 - Special Marriages Act
 1872 - Punjab Laws Act