Khattar govt sets up Law Commission to review existing laws, frame new ones

Pradeep Sharma

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 27

The BJP-JJP government has set up the Haryana State Law Commission, an institutional mechanism for the review and amendment of the existing laws and enactment of fresh legislation to make justice speedy and effective for the general public.

To be headed by a chairman, who will either be a chief justice/judge of the high court, the commission will have two full-time members. One of the members will be a serving or retired district and sessions/additional sessions judge and other an advocate with at least 15 years of legal practice. The tenure of the commission will be three years.

Commission’s mandate

*To study all existing state laws to determine their conformity with socio-economic conditions of society.

*To examine statutory, non-statutory rules, especially under 309 of Constitution, and state rules. And to bring them in conformity with SC, high court orders.

*To conduct post-audit of socio-economic legislations for the poor.

*Recommendation of new legislations keeping in view changed socio-economic scenario.

Outlining the mandate of the commission, a notification by Chief Secretary Vijai Vardhan said it would “examine all important state laws to recommend their modification and revision to make them conform to the changed socio-economic conditions of society”. 

It would also examine existing statutory and non-statutory rules, especially service rules enacted under Article 309 of the Indian Constitution and recommend their revision to bring them in conformity with various judgements of the Supreme Court and high courts. Besides service legislations of the government departments would be examined in detail.

The commission will also conduct post-audit of various socio-economic legislations for the poor. An in-depth examination of the judicial administration to ensure that it is responsive to the reasonable demands of the times and eliminate various technicalities for delay in justice will also be under commission’s purview.

The commission will ensure that the current laws are consistent with the Constitution of India.

The commission will recommend removal of anomalies and ambiguities in the existing laws brought to light by the conflicting decisions of the Supreme Court and various high courts besides recommending removal of obsolete laws.

Besides, suggesting ways and means for improving the administration of justice would be among its jurisdiction.

Recommendation of new legislations keeping in view social, economic and financial changes in society would also among its tasks.

The notification said the commission would forward its recommendations to the state government for placing them before the Haryana Assembly for passage.