New Delhi: In a significant development appearing in India latest news today, the Central Government has appointed former Supreme Court judge, Justice Dinesh Maheshwari, as the Chairman of the 23rd Law Commission of India. This key move comes as the nation continues to focus on judicial reforms and legal modernization.
The 23rd Law Commission, which was notified on September 2, 2023, has been provided a three-year term until August 2027. As per its terms of reference, the Commission will work on significant national matters, including:
- Submission of a report on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC)
- Study of legislation affecting the poor and marginalized segments
- Identification and amendment of outdated legislation that impedes India's economic growth
This appointment is seen as a strategic one on the part of the government, as the commission is tasked with handling sensitive and powerful legal reforms.
Justice Maheshwari, who retired from the Supreme Court in May 2023, brings a wealth of experience to the role. His appointment falls in line with the government's ongoing effort to streamline the legal system and offer inclusive legal reforms.
The makeup of the 23rd Law Commission is as follows:
- A Chairman
- Four full-time members (one of whom is a Member Secretary)
- Two secretaries from the Ministry of Law
- Not more than five part-time members
This is following the tenure of the 22nd Law Commission, which was headed by Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi. He departed office without completing a term after he was appointed as a member of the Lokpal. During his chairmanship, the commission had initiated a public consultation on the Uniform Civil Code, in which they employed Artificial Intelligence (AI) to examine and process over 8 million petitions from the public.
This move has dominated the headlines in India latest news today, with legal professionals and policy makers waiting to see the recommendations of the Commission in the time to come.
For continuous updates on this and other breaking news, keep following our coverage of India latest news today.