President Draupadi Murmu has approved the formation of the 23rd Law Commission of India. Its tenure will be from 1 September 2024 to 31 August 2027.

According to the Law Ministry order issued late on Monday night, the panel will have a full-time chairman and four full-time members including a member-secretary.

Retired judges of the Supreme Court and High Court will be its chairman and members. The term of the 22nd Law Panel ended on 31 August.

The government constituted the 22nd Commission on 21 February 2020 for three years. Justice Awasthi took over as chairman on 9 November 2022. The Union Cabinet extended its term to the 22nd in February 2023.

After independence, the first Law Commission was established in India in 1955, since then the term of 22 commissions has been completed. Their job is to advise the government on complex legal issues.

22nd Commission's report on UCC is still incomplete
The 22nd Commission has given suggestions to the government on many matters. This includes issues like One Nation-One Election, POCSO Act and online FIR and Uniform Civil Code (UCC).

The commission's report on UCC is still incomplete. At the same time, the report on One Nation, One Election is ready but is awaiting submission to the Law Ministry.

Retired Justice Rituraj Awasthi was the chairman of the 22nd Law Commission, who was also appointed as a member of the anti-corruption watchdog Lokpal.

The Law Commission had sought suggestions from the people on UCC
The Law Commission had sought suggestions from common people and organizations on UCC on 14 June 2023. The Commission believes that this issue is related to every citizen of the country, so it is important to know their opinion before taking any decision. The Commission had received more than 46 lakh suggestions.

Then the statement of Law Commission Chairman Justice Rituraj Awasthi also came out. He had said- UCC is not a new issue. We have also started the consultation process. For this, the commission has sought the opinion of the general public.

PM Modi had called UCC the need of the hour from the Red Fort

In his speech from the Red Fort on Independence Day last month, PM Modi had given a statement on UCC. He had said that a secular civil code is the need of the hour for the country. The Prime Minister had termed the existing laws as communal civil code and called them discriminatory.

The PM had said that laws that divide the country on communal basis and cause inequality have no place in modern society. Article 44 under the Directive Principles of State Policy states that it is the duty of the state to ensure a Uniform Civil Code for the citizens throughout India.