Final Days of 22nd Law Commission: Critical Reports Pending

The 22nd Law Commission, without a chairperson for months, ends its term with crucial reports on the uniform civil code and simultaneous elections pending. Justice (retd) Ritu Raj Awasthi, the former head, was appointed to Lokpal. The law panel's report on 'one nation, one election' awaits submission, while fresh consultations on the uniform civil code are ongoing.

The term for the 22nd Law Commission concludes on Saturday, with its central report on the uniform civil code still incomplete due to the absence of a chairperson.

The panel's document on simultaneous elections is ready but pending submission to the law ministry, as procedures require a chairperson for formal submission.

Former head Justice (retd) Ritu Raj Awasthi was appointed to Lokpal, stalling progress. A high-level committee led by the ex-president Ram Nath Kovind submitted a report on 'one nation, one election' in March.

The outgoing commission renewed consultations on the uniform civil code last year, gathering societal inputs for a draft report, which remains in limbo after Awasthi's Lokpal appointment.

In his latest Independence Day speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed the need for a 'secular civil code,' critiquing current laws as 'communal' and inequality-inducing.

Article 44 of Directive Principles calls for a Uniform Civil Code. Uttarakhand recently introduced its own version.

The central government previously assigned the unified code issue to the 21st Law Commission, which concluded in 2018, having consulted stakeholders and issued a consultation paper advocating against a uniform code at that stage.

The 22nd Law Commission's renewed efforts followed a significant time gap. Extending its term in February 2023, the panel had limited active time, leading to the current impasse.

(With inputs from agencies.)