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EARLY BEGINNINGS:

Law Reform has been a continuing process particularly during the last 300 years or more in Indian history. In the ancient period, when religious and customary law occupied the field, reform process had been ad hoc and not institutionalised through duly constituted law reform agencies. However, since the third decade of the nineteenth century, Law Commissions were constituted by the Government from time to time and were empowered to recommend legislative reforms with a view to clarify, consolidate and codify particular branches of law where the Government felt the necessity for it. The first such Commission was established in 1834 under the Charter Act of 1833 under the Chairmanship of Lord Macaulay which recommended codification of the Penal Code, the Criminal Procedure Code and a few other matters. Thereafter, the second, third and fourth Law Commissions were constituted in 1853, 1861 and 1879 respectively which, during a span of fifty years contributed a great deal to enrich the Indian Statute Book with a large variety of legislations on the pattern of the then prevailing English Laws adapted to Indian conditions. The Indian Code of Civil Procedure, the Indian Contract Act, the Indian Evidence Act, the Transfer of Property Act. etc. are products of the labour of the first four Law Commissions.

POST-INDEPENDENCE DEVELOPMENTS:

After independence, the Constitution of India with its Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles of State Policy gave a new direction to law reform geared to the needs of a democratic legal order in a plural society. Though the Constitution stipulated the continuation of pre-Constitution Laws (Article 372) till they are amended or repealed, there had been demands in Parliament and outside for establishing a Central Law Commission to recommend revision and updating of the inherited laws to serve the changing needs of the country. The Government of India reacted favourably and established the First Law Commission of Independent India in 1955 with the then Attorney-General of India, Mr. M. C. Setalvad, as its Chairman. Since then twenty one more Law Commissions have been appointed, each with a three-year term and with different terms of reference. The names of Chairman who presided over these Commissions are given below:-

First Law Commission	1955-58	Mr. M. C. Setalvad Former Attorney General of India
Second Law Commission	1958-61	Mr. Justice T. V. Venkatarama Aiyar.
Third Law Commission	1961-64	Mr. Justice J. L. Kapur
Fourth Law Commission	1964-68	Mr. Justice J. L. Kapur
Fifth Law Commission	1968-71	Mr. K. V. K. Sundaram, I. C. S.
Sixth Law Commission	1971-74	Mr. Justice Dr. P. B. Gajendragadkar
Seventh Law Commission	1974-77	Mr. Justice Dr. P. B. Gajendragadkar
Eighth Law Commission	1977-79	Mr. Justice H. R. Khanna
Ninth Law Commission	1979-80	Mr. Justice P. V. Dixit
Tenth Law Commission	1981-85	Mr. Justice K. K. Mathew
Eleventh Law Commission	1985-88	Mr. Justice D. A. Desai
Twelfth Law Commission	1988-91	Mr. Justice M. P. Thakkar
Thirteenth Law Commission	1991-94	Mr. Justice K. N. Singh
Fourteenth Law Commission	1995-97	Mr. Justice K Jayachandra Reddy
Fifteenth Law Commission	1997-2000	Mr. Justice B. P. Jeevan Reddy
Sixteenth Law Commission	2000-2001 2002-2003	Mr. Justice B. P. Jeevan Reddy Mr. Justice M. Jagannadha Rao
Seventeenth Law Commission	2003-2006	Mr. Justice M. Jagannadha Rao
Eighteenth Law Commission	2006-2009	Dr. Justice AR Lakshmanan
Nineteenth Law Commission	2009-2012	Mr. Justice P. V. Reddi
Twentieth Law Commission	2012-2013 2013-2015	Mr. Justice D. K. Jain Mr. Justice A. P. Shah

REPORTS SUBMITTED BY FIRST LAW COMMISSION

No. of the Report	Subject	Date of Presentation
1.	Liability of the State in Tort.	11. 5. 1956
2.	Parliamentary Legislation relating to Sales Tax.	2. 7. 1956
3.	Limitation Act, 1908	21. 7. 56
4.	On the proposal that High Courts should sit in Benches at different places in a State	1. 8. 56
5.	British Statutes Applicable to India.	11. 5. 57
6.	Registration Act, 1908	13. 7. 57
7.	Partnership Act, 1932	13. 7. 57
8.	Sale of Goods Act, 1930	1. 3. 58
9.	Specific Relief Act, 1877	19. 7. 58
10	Law of Acquisition and Requisitioning of Land.	26. 9. 58
11	Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881	26. 9. 58
12	Income-Tax Act, 1922	26. 9. 58
13	Contract Act, 1872	26. 9. 58
14	Reform of Judicial Administration	16. 9. 58

The List of reports the earlier Law Commissions including present Law Commission have forwarded to the Government during the past four decades is given at the end of this monograph.

THE TWENTY-FIRST LAW COMMISSION

The Twenty-first Law Commission was constituted through a Government Order with effect from 1st September, 2015. It has a three-year term, ending on 31st August, 2018. The Commission presently comprises of the following:-

Dr. Justice Balbir Singh Chauhan	Chairman
Mr. Justice Ravi R. Tripathi	Member
Prof.(Dr.) S. Sivakumar	Member
	Member
Dr. Sanjay Singh	Member-Secretary
Shri Suresh Chandra, Law Secretary	Member(Ex-Officio)
Dr. G. Narayana Raju, Secretary (Legislative)	Member(Ex-Officio)
Prof. (Dr.) Bimal N. Patel	Member (Part-time)
Shri Satya Pal Jain	Member (Part-time)
Shri Abhay Bharadwaj	Member (Part-time)

The Commission is empowered to have five part-time Members depending upon the need and on the Approval of the Government. The Terms of Reference of the Twenty-first Law Commission are 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 harmonizing them.

v. Consider references made to it by Ministries/Departments through the Department of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Law and Justice in respect of legislations 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 decision 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 and 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.

FOLLOW-UP

The Reports of the Law Commission are considered by the Ministry of Law in consultation with the concerned administrative Ministries and are submitted to Parliament from time to time. They are cited in Courts, in academic and public discourses and are acted upon by concerned Government Departments depending on the Government's recommendations.

The Law Commission of India has forwarded 262 Reports so far on different subjects.

HOW DOES THE COMMISSION FUNCTION

The Commission's regular staff consists of about a dozen research personnel of different ranks and varied experiences. A small group of secretarial staff looks after the administration side of the Commission's operations.

Basically the projects undertaken by the Commission are initiated in the Commission's meetings which take place frequently. Priorities are discussed, topics are identified and preparatory work is assigned to each member of the Commission. Depending upon the nature and scope of the topic, different methodologies for collection of data and research are adopted keeping the scope of the proposal for reform in mind.

Discussion at Commission meetings during this period helps not only in articulating the issues and focussing the research, but also evolving a consensus among members of the Commission. What emerges out of this preparatory work in the Commission is usually a working paper outlining the problem and suggesting matters deserving reform. The paper is then sent out for circulation in the public and concerned interest groups with a view to eliciting reactions and suggestions. Usually a carefully prepared questionnaire is also sent with the document.

The Law Commission has been anxious to ensure that the widest section of people are consulted in formulating proposals for law reforms. In this process, partnerships are established with professional bodies and academic institutions. Seminars and workshops are organised in different parts of the country to elicit critical opinion on proposed strategies for reform.

Once the data and informed views are assembled, the Commission's staff evaluates them and organises the information for appropriate introduction in the report which is written either by the Member-Secretary or one of the Members or the Chairman of the Commission. It is then subjected to close scrutiny by the full Commission in prolonged meetings. Once the Report and summary are finalised, the Commission may decide to prepare a draft amendment or a new bill which may be appended to its report. Thereafter, the final report is forwarded to the Government.

It is obvious that the success of the Commission's work in law reforms is dependent upon its capacity to assemble the widest possible inputs from the public and concerned interest groups. The Commission is constantly on the look out for strategies to accomplish this goal within the limited resources available to it. In this regard the media plays an important role which the Commission proposes to tap more frequently than before.

The Commission welcomes suggestions from any person, institution or organisation on the issues under consideration of the Commission, which may be sent to the Member-Secretary.

LAW COMMISSION OF INDIA

LIST OF REPORTS FORWARDED (1955-2015)

FIRST LAW COMMISSION

SECOND LAW COMMISSION

THIRD LAW COMMISSION

FOURTH LAW COMMISSION

FIFTH LAW COMMISSION

SIXTH LAW COMMISSION

SEVENTH LAW COMMISSION

EIGHTH LAW COMMISSION

NINTH LAW COMMISSION

TENTH LAW COMMISSION

ELEVENTH LAW COMMISSION

TWELFTH LAW COMMISSION

THIRTEENTH LAW COMMISSION

FOURTEENTH LAW COMMISSION

FIFTEENTH LAW COMMISSION

SIXTEENTH LAW COMMISSION

SEVENTEENTH LAW COMMISSION

EIGHTEENTH LAW COMMISSION

NINETEENTH LAW COMMISSION

TWENTIETH LAW COMMISSION

First Law Commission

(Chairman Mr. M. C. Setalvad 1955-1958)

No. of the Report

Subject

Year of submission

1.	Liability of the State in Torts.	1956
2.	Parliamentary Legislation relating to Sales Tax.	1956
3.	Limitation Act, 1908	1956
4.	On the proposal that High Courts should sit in Benches at different places in a State.	1956
5.	British Statutes applicable to India.	1957
6.	Registration Act, 1908	1957
7.	Partnership Act, 1932	1957
8.	Sale of Goods Act, 1930	1958
9.	Specific Relief Act, 1877	1958
10.	Law of Acquisition and Requisitioning of Land.	1958
11.	Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881	1958
12.	Income Tax Act, 1922	1958
13.	Contract Act, 1872	1958
14.	Reform of Judicial Administration.	1958

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

23.	Law of Foreign Marriages.	1962
24.	The Commission of Inquiry Act, 1952	1962.
25.	Evidence of Officers about forged stamps, currency notes, etc. Section 509-A Cr.P.C. as proposed.	1963
26.	Insolvency Laws	1964
27.	The Code of Civil Procedure, 1908.	1964
28.	The Indian Oaths Act, 1873.	1964

29.	Proposal to include certain Social and Economic Offences in the Indian Penal Code	1966
30.	Section 5 of the Central Sales Tax Act, 1956, taxation by the States of Sales in the course of import.	1967
31.	Section 30(2) of the Indian Registration Act, 1908-Extension to Delhi.	1967
32.	Section 9 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898-Appointment of Sessions Judges, Additional Session Judges and Assistant Sessions Judges.	1967
33.	Section 44, Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898.	1967
34.	Indian Registration Act, 1908.	1967
35.	Capital Punishment.	1967
36.	Sections 497, 498 and 499 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898-Grant of bail with condition.	1967
37.	The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (Sections 1 to 176).	1967
38.	Indian Post Office Act, 1898.	1968

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

45.	Civil Appeals to the Supreme Court on a Certificate of Fitness.	1971
46.	The Constitution (Twenty-fifth Amendment) Bill,1971.	1971
47.	The Trial and Punishment of Social and Economic Offences.	1972
48.	Some questions under the Code of Criminal Procedure Bill, 1970.	1972
49.	The Proposal for inclusion of agricultural income in the total income for the purpose of determining the rate of tax under the Income-tax Act, 1961.	1972
50.	The Proposal to include persons connected with Public examination within the definition of "Public Servant" in the Indian Penal Code.	1972
51.	Compensation for injuries caused by automobiles in hit-and-run cases.	1972
52.	Estate Duty on Property acquired after death.	1972
53.	Effect of the Pensions Act, 1871 on the right to sue for pensions of retired members of the public services.	1972
54.	The Code of Civil Procedure, 1908.	1973
55.	Rate of interest after decree and interest on costs under sections 34 and 35, of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908.	1973
56.	Statutory Provisions as to Notice of suit other than section 80, Civil Procedure Code.	1973
57.	Benami Transactions.	1973
58.	Structure and Jurisdiction of the Higher Judiciary.	1974
59.	Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 and Special Marriage Act, 1954.	1974
60.	The General Clauses Act, 1897.	1974
61.	Certain problems connected with power of the States to levy a tax on the sale of goods and with the Central Sales Tax Act, 1956.	1974

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

71	The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955- Irretrievable breakdown of marriage as a ground of divorce.	1978
72	Restriction on practice after being a permanent Judge, Article 220 of the Constitution.	1978
73	Criminal liability for failure by Husband to pay maintenance or permanent alimony granted to the wife By the court under certain enactments or rules of law.	1978
74	Proposal to amend the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 so as to render Admissible certain statements made By witnesses before Commission of Inquiry and other statutory authorities.	1978
75	Disciplinary Jurisdiction under the Advocates Act, 1961.	1978
76	Arbitration Act, 1940.	1978
77	Delay and arrears in trial courts.	1979
78	Congestion of under trial prisoners in jails.	1979
79	Delay and Arrears in High Courts and other Appellate Courts.	1979
80	Method of Appointment of Judges.	1979

81	Hindu Widows Re-marriage Act, 1856.	1979
82	Effect of nomination under section 39, Insurance Act, 1938.	1980
83	The Guardians and Wards Act, 1890 and certain provisions of the Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, 1956.	1980
84	Rape and allied offences-some questions of substantive law, procedure and evidence.	1980
85	Claims for compensation under Chapter 8 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1939.	1980
86	The Partition Act, 1893.	1980
87	Identification of Prisoners Act, 1920.	1980

88	Governmental Privilege in Evidence: Sections 123-124 and 162, Indian Evidence Act, 1872 and Articles 74 and 163 of the Constitution.	1983
89	The Limitation Act, 1963.	1983
90	The Grounds of Divorce amongst Christians in India: section 10, of the Indian Divorce Act, 1869.	1983
91	Dowry deaths and law reform: Amending the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and the Indian Evidence Act, 1872.	1983
92	Damages in applications for Judicial Review Recommendations for legislation.	1983
93	Disclosure of sources of information by mass media.	1983
94	Evidence obtained illegally or improperly: proposed section 166A, Indian Evidence Act, 1872.	1983
95	Constitutional Division within the Supreme Court- A proposal for.	1984
96	Repeal of certain obsolete Central Acts.	1984
97	Section 28, Indian Contract Act, 1872: prescriptive clauses in contracts.	1984
98	Sections 24 to 26, Hindu Marriage Act, 1955: Orders for interim maintenance and orders for the maintenance of children in matrimonial proceedings.	1984
99	Oral and written arguments in the Higher courts.	1984
100	Litigation by and against the Government: some recommendations for reform.	1984
101	Freedom of Speech and Expression under Article 19 of the Constitution: recommendation to extend it to Indian Corporations.	1984
102	Section 122(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973: imprisonment for breach of bond for keeping the peace with sureties.	1984
103	Unfair Terms in Contract.	1984
104	The Judicial Officers' Protection Act, 1850.	1984
105	Quality Control and Inspection of consumer goods.	1984
106	Section 103A, Motor Vehicles Act, 1939: effect of Transfer of a Motor Vehicle on Insurance.	1984
107	Law of Citizenship.	1984
108	Promissory Estoppel.	1984
109	Obscene and Indecent advertisements and Displays: sections 292-293, Indian Penal Code.	1985
110	The Indian Succession Act, 1925.	1985
111	The Fatal Accidents Act, 1855.	1985
112	Section 45 of the Insurance Act, 1938.	1985
113	Injuries in Police Custody- Suggested section 114B, Evidence Act.	1985

114	Gram Nyayalaya.	1986
115	Tax Courts.	1986
116	Formation of an All India Judicial Service.	1986
117	Training of Judicial Officers.	1986
118	Method of appointment to subordinate courts/ subordinate judiciary.	1986
119	Access to Exclusive Forum for Victims of Motor Accidents under Motor Vehicles Act, 1939.	1987
120	Manpower Planning in Judiciary: A Blueprint	1987
121	A New Forum for Judicial Appointments.	1987
122	Forum for National Uniformity in Labour Adjudication.	1987
123	Decentralisation of Administration of Justice:Disputes Involving Centres of Higher Education.	1988
124	The High Court Arrears- A Fresh Look.	1988
125	The Supreme Court- A Fresh Look.	1988
126	Government and Public Sector Undertaking Litigation Policy and Strategies.	1988
127	Resource Allocation for Infra-structural Services in Judicial Administration (A continuum of the Report on Manpower Planning in Judiciary: A Blueprint).
128	Cost of Litigation.	1988
129	Urban Litigation – Mediation as alternative to Adjudication.	1988
130	Benami Transactions:A Continuum.	1988
131	Role of legal profession in Administration of Justice.	1988

132	Need for Amendment of the Provisions of the Chapter IX of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 in order to ameliorate the hardship and mitigate the distress of Neglected Women, Children and Parents.	1989
133	Removal of Discrimination against Women in matters relating to Guardianship and Custody of Minor Children and Elaboration of the Welfare Principle.	1989
134	Removing Deficiencies in certain Provisions of the Workmen's Compensation Act, 1923.	1989
135	Women in Custody.	1989
136	Conflicts in High Court Decisions on Central Laws- How to foreclose and how to resolve.	1990
137	Need for creating office of Ombudsman and for evolving legislative administrative measures inter-alia to relieve hardships caused by inordinate delays in settling Provident Fund claims of beneficiaries.	1990
138	Legislative Protection for Slum and Pavement Dwellers.	1990
139	Urgent need to amend Order XXI, Rule 92(2), Code of Civil Procedure to remove an anomaly which nullifies the benevolent intention of the legislature and occasions injustice to judgement-debtors sought to be benefited.	1991
140	Need to amend Order V, Rule 19A of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, relating to service of summons by registered post with a view to foreclose likely injustice.	1991
141	Need for amending the law as regards power of courts to restore criminal revisional applications and criminal cases dismissed for default in appearance.	1991
142	Concessional treatment for offenders who on their own initiative choose to plead guilty without any bargaining.	1991
143	Legislative safeguards for protecting the small depositors from exploitation.	1991

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

154	The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (Act No. 2 of 1974).	1996
155	The Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985(Act No. 61 of 1985).	1997
156	The Indian Penal Code.	1997

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

175	The Foreigners (Amendment) Bill, 2000	2000
176	The Arbitration and conciliation (Amendment) Bill, 2002	2001
177	Law Relating to Arrest	2001
178	Recommendations for amending various enactments, both civil and criminal	2001
179	Public Interest Disclosure and Protection of Informers	2001
180	Article 20 (3) of the Constitution of India and Right to Silence	2002
181	Amendment to Section 106 of the Transfer of Property Act, 1882	2002
182	Amendment of Section 6 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894.	2002
183	A Continuum on the General Clauses Act, 1897 with special reference to the admissibility and codification of external aids to interpretation of statutes.	2002
184	Legal Education & Professional Training and Proposals for amendments to the Advocates Act, 1961 and the University Grants Commission Act, 1956.	2002
185	Review of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872.	2003

186	Proposal to Constitute Environment Courts	2003
187	Mode of Execution of Death Sentence and Incidental Matters	2003
188	The Proposals for Constitution of Hi-Tech Fast - Track Commercial Divisions in High Courts.	2003
189	Revision of Court Fees Structure	2004
190	The Revision of the Insurance Act, 1938 and the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 1999	2004
191	Regulation of Funds collected for Calamity Relief.	2004
192	Prevention of vexatious Litigation.	2005
193	Transnational Litigation, Conflict of Laws, Law of Limitation.	2005
194	Verification of Stamp Duties and Registration of Arbitral Awards.	2005
195	The Judges (Inquiry) Bill, 2005	2006
196	Medical Treatment to Terminally Ill Patients (Protection of Patients and Medical Practitioners)	2006
197	Public Prosecutor’s Appointments.	2006
198	Witness Identity Protection and Witness Protection Programmes	2006
199	Unfair (Procedural and Substancive) Terms in Contracts	2006
200	Trial by Media: Free Speech Vs. Fair Trial Under Criminal Procedure (Amendments to the Contempt of Court Act, 1971)	2006
201	Medical Treatment after Accidents and During Emergency Medical Condition and Women in Labour	2006

202	Proposal to Amend Section 304-B of the Indian Penal Code	2007
203	Section 438 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 as Amended by the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Act, 2005 (Anticipatory Bail)	2007
204	Proposal to Amend the Hindu Succession Act, 1956 as amended by Act 39 of 2005.	2008
205	Proposal to Amend the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 and other allied Laws.	2008
206	Proposal for enactment of new Coroners Act applicable to the whole of India	2008
207	Proposal to amend Section 15 of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956 in case a female dies intestate leaving herself acquired property with no heirs.	2008
208	Proposal for amendment of Explanation to Section 6 of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956 to include oral partition and family arrangement in the definition of "partition"	2008
209	Proposal for omission of Section 213 from the Indian Succession Act, 1925	2008
210	Humanization and Decriminalization of Attempt to Suicide.	2008
211	Laws on Registration of Marriage and Divorce –A Proposal for Consolidation and Reform.	2008
212	Laws of Civil Marriages in India – A Proposal to Resolve Certain Conflicts	2008
213	Fast Track Magisterial Courts for Dishonoured Cheque Cases	2008
214	Proposal for reconsideration of Judges cases I, II and III - SP GUPTA Vs. UOI	2008
215	L . Chandra Kumar be revisited by Larger bench of Supreme Court of India	2008
216	Non-Feasibility of Introduction of Hindi as Compulsory Language in the Supreme Court of India	2008
217	Irretrievable Breakdown of Marriage - Another Ground for Divorce.	2009
218	Need to accede to the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (1980).	2009
219	Need for Family Law Legislations for Non-resident Indians.	2009
220	Need to fix Maximum Chargeable Court-fees in Subordinate Civil Courts.	2009
221	Need for Speedy Justice – Some Suggestions.	2009
222	Need for Justice–dispensation through ADR etc.	2009
223	Need for Ameliorating the lot of the Have-nots - Supreme Court’s Judgments.	2009
224	Amendment of Section 2 of the Divorce Act 1869 Enabling Non-domiciled Estranged Christian Wives to seek Divorce.	2009
225	Amendment of Sections 7, 7A, and 7B of Industrial Disputes Act 1947 Making Advocates Eligible to man Labour Courts and Industrial Tribunals. 2009	2009
226	The Inclusion of Acid Attacks as Specific Offences in the Indian Penal Code and a Law for Compensation for Victims of Crime.	2009
227	Preventing Bigamy via Conversion to Islam - A Proposal for giving Statutory Effect to Supreme Court Rulings	2009
228	Need For Legislation to Regulate Assisted Reproductive Technology Clinics as Well as Rights and Obligations of Parties to a Surrogacy	2009
229	Need for division of the Supreme Court into a Constitution Bench at Delhi and Cassation Benches in four regions at Delhi, Chennai/ Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai	2009
230	Reforms in the Judiciary – Some suggestions	2009
231	Amendments in Indian Stamp Act 1899 And Court-Fees Act 1870 Permitting Different Modes of Payment	2009
232	Retirement Age of Chairpersons and Members of Tribunals – Need for Uniformity	2009
233	Amendment of Code of Criminal Procedure Enabling Restoration of Complaints	2009
234	Legal Reforms to Combat Road Accidents	2009

Nineteenth Law Commission (Chairman Mr. Justice P. V. Reddi, 2009-2012)
235	Conversion/reconversion to another religion - mode of proof	2010
236	Court-fees in Supreme Court vis-à-vis Corporate Litigation	2010
237	Compounding of (IPC) offences	2011
238	Amendment of Section 89 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 and Allied provisions	2011
239	Expeditious Investigation and Trial of Criminal Cases Against 2012 Influential Public Personalities	2012
240	Costs in Civil Litigation	2012
241	Passive Euthanasia - A Relook	2012
242	Prevention of Interference with the freedom of Matrimonial Alliances 2012 (in the name of Honour and Tradition ) : A suggested legal framework	2012
243	Section 498 A, IPC	2012
Twentieth Law Commission (Chairman Mr. Justice D. K. Jain, (25.01.2013 - 05.10.2013) (Chairman Mr. Justice A. P. Shah, w. e. f. 21.11.2013)
244	Electoral Disqualifications	2014
245	Arrears and Backlog: Creating Additional Judicial (wo)manpower	2014
246	Amendments to the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996	2014
247	Sections 41 to 48 of the Indian Succession Act,1925 – Proposed Reforms	2014
248	Obsolete Laws: Warranting Immediate Repeal (Interim Report)	2014
249	Obsolete Laws: Warranting Immediate Repeal (Second Interim Report)	2014
250	Obsolete Laws: Warranting Immediate Repeal (Third Interim Report)	2014
251	Obsolete Laws: Warranting Immediate Repeal (Fourth Interim Report)	2014
252	Right of the Hindu Wife to Maintenance: A relook at Section 18 of the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, 1956	2015
253	Commercial Division and Commercial Appellate Division of High Courts and Commercial Courts Bill, 2015	2015
	Supplementary to Report No. 246 on Amendments to Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 “Public Policy” Developments post-Report No. 246 (06.02.2015)	2015
254	The Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, 2013	2015
255	Electoral Reforms	2015
256	Eliminating Discrimination Against Persons Affected by Leprosy	2015
257	Reforms in Guardianship and Custody Laws in India	2015
258	Prevention of Bribery of Foreign Public Officials and Officials of Public International Organisations – A Study and Proposed Amendments	2015
259	Early Childhood Development and Legal Entitlement	2015
260	Analysis of the 2015 Draft Model Indian Bilateral Investment Treaty	2015
261	Need to Regulate Pet Shops and Dog and Aquarium Fish Breeding	2015
262	The Death Penalty	2015