Report No. 114

Gram Nyayalaya

Chapter I

Constitution and Terms of Reference of Law Commission of India

1.1. Terms of reference of Law Commission.-

The Eleventh Law Commission was constituted on September 1, 1985 with the following terms of reference:

1. To 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-

(a) 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 decisions should be just and fair;

(b) 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;

(c) improvement of standards of all concerned with the administration of justice.

2. To 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 legislation as might be necessary to implement the Directive Principles and to attain the objectives set out in the Preamble to the Constitution.

3. To revise the Central Acts of general importance so as to simplify them and to remove anomalies, ambiguities and inequities.

4. To recommend to the Government measures for bringing the statute book up-to-date by repealing obsolete laws and enactments or parts thereof which have outlived their utility.

5. To consider and to convey to the Government its views on any other subject relating to law and judicial administration that may be referred to it.