NEW DELHI, Nov 9:
Retired Karnataka High Court chief justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, who had headed the bench which delivered the hijab verdict, on Wednesday took charge as the chairperson of the 22nd Law Commission.
The current law panel was constituted on February 21, 2020, but its chairperson and members were appointed on Monday, months before the end of the panel’s three-year term.
“Congratulated Hon Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi on assuming as the new Chairman, Law Commission of India, at my residence, New Delhi,” Law Minister Kiren Rijiju tweeted sharing a picture of the meeting.
The Government has said the issue related to the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) may be taken up by the 22nd law panel.
The Law Commission advises the Government on complex legal issues.
Justice KT Sankaran, Professor Anand Paliwal, Professor DP Verma, Professor Raka Arya and M Karunanithi were on Monday appointed as members of the commission.
BJP Lok Sabha member Nishikant Dubey had raised the issue of the importance of having a UCC in a Zero Hour reference in December last year.
Responding to the issue, Law Minister Rijiju wrote to Dubey in January, saying Article 44 of the Constitution provides that the State shall endeavour to secure for the citizens a UCC throughout the territory of India.
“In view of the importance of the subject matter and sensitivity involved and it requiring in-depth study of the provisions of various personal laws governing different communities, a proposal to examine issues relating to uniform civil code and to make recommendations has been forwarded to the 21st Law Commission of India,” he said.
However, the term of the 21st Law Commission ended on August 31, 2018.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Justice Chandrachud wishing him a fruitful tenure as CJI.
“Congratulations to Dr Justice D Y Chandrachud on being sworn in as India’s Chief Justice. Wishing him a fruitful tenure ahead,” the Prime Minister tweeted.
Vice President and Rajya Sabha chairperson Jagdeep Dhankhar, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, and Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah and Kiren Rijiju were among other dignitaries present at the oath taking ceremony. (PTI)
Follow our WhatsApp channel