About Law Commission

Background

In the Indian sub-continent the first Law Commission was established in 1834 under the Chairmanship of Lord Macaulay under the Charter Act of 1833. Thereafter the second, third and fourth Law Commissions were consecutively established in 1853, 1861 and 1879 respectively. The first Law Commission in addition to other recommendations made recommendations for codification of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and the Code of Criminal  Procedure,  1898.  The  consecutive  three  Law Commissions enriched the treasure of the laws of the Indian sub- continent by initiating a large number of diversified laws. Besides, the Indian Penal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure, the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, the Evidence Act, 1872, Indian Contract Act, 1872 and the Transfer of Property Act, 1882 etc. are the outcome of labor of the aforesaid four Law Commissions.

During the Pakistan period two Law Reform Commissions; first one under the Chairmanship of Mr. Justice S.A. Rahman in 1958 and the second one under the Chairmanship of Mr. Justice Hamoodur Rahman in 1967 were established. Justice S.A. Rahman Law Reform Commission examined the causes of delay in  disposal  of  Civil  and   Criminal  cases  and  also  made recommendations for making suitable amendments in the related laws. Justice Hamoodur Rahman Law Reform Commission submitted an exhaustive report in the matter of delay of disposal of Civil and Criminal cases.

After emergence of Bangladesh  the first  Law  Reform Committee was formed in 1976 under the Chairmanship of Mr. Justice Kemal Uddin Hossain. Later on a Law Reform Committee was formed in 1979 under the Chairmanship of Mr. Justice Altaf Hossain. The aforesaid Law Reform Committees amongst other issues examined the procedural aspects of Civil and Criminal Code and made some recommendations of relevant laws for speedy disposal of Civil and Criminal cases. In 1990 another Law Commission was set up under the Chairmanship of Barrister Ashrarul Hossain. This Commission existed for a short period and it made recommendations on the reforms of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 and  some other laws. A temporary Law Reform Commission was established on May 25,1996, in pursuance of the executive resolution dated 7-4-1994 vide No 120-Law/vetting/33/93 with Mr. Justice Naimuddin Ahmed as a Member as well as Acting Chairman. On 4th August, 1996 the former Chief Justice of Bangladesh Mr. Justice Dr. F.K.M.A Munim was appointed the Chairman of the Law Reform Commission.

Establishment of the Law Commission

The Government felt it necessary to make the Commission a permanent one under a regular statute. Steps were taken and the Law Commission Bill of 1996 was passed by the Parliament. Upon receipt of assent of the Hon'ble President on September 9, 1996 it became an Act of Parliament (The Law Commission Act 1996 Act no. XIX of 1996). Thus the former temporary Law Reform Commission stood converted into a permanent Law Commission.  After the establishment of permanent Law Commission Mr. Justice Amin-Ur-Rahman Khan was appointed another Member of the Commission on September 22, 1996. While being Member of the Commission Mr. Justice Amin-Ur-Rahman died and after his death Professor Shah Alam, Dean of the Law Faculty of the University of Chittagong was appointed Member of the Commission. The first Chairman of the Law Commission although was appointed for three years but prior to expiry of his tenure he tendered his resignation and then another former Chief Justice of Bangladesh Mr. Justice Kemal Uddin Hossain was appointed the Chairman of the Commission for three-year-term. Professor Shah Alam, prior to completion of his term tendered resignation and some time after his resignation Mr. Justice B. B. Roy Choudhury was appointed the Member of the Law Commission. The former Chief Justice of Bangladesh Mr. Justice A.T.M. Afzal was appointed the Chairman of the Commission on August 1, 2001 for the next three years. Member of the Law Commission Justice B.B. Roy Choudhury on being appointed Advisor of the Non Party Caretaker Government of 2001 tendered his resignation and in his place on August 9, 2001, Mr. Justice A.K.M. Sadeque was appointed the Member of the Commission.

Composition of the Law Commission

As per section 5 of the Law Commission Act, 1996, the Commission consists of a Chairman and two Members. Under the law the Government has got the power to increase the number of its Members, if it deems necessary. The Chairman and Members of the Commission hold their respective offices for a term of three years from the date of their respective appointments. The Chairman or a Member may be re appointed by the Government for the prescribed term after the expiry of the said term. From the very beginning the Chairman of the Commission has been appointed from amongst the retired Chief Justices of Bangladesh and Members have been appointed from retired judges of Supreme Court of Bangladesh except on one occasion on which a Member was appointed from amongst legal academics. The Commission is supported by a Secretary and three Senior Research Officers, one Assistant Secretary and two translation officers who are also Judicial Officers working on deputation. There  are  also some  Ministerial  Staff  in the Commission to support administrative works.

three Senior Research Officers, one Assistant Secretary and two
Translation Officers who are also Jooicial Officers working on
deputation. There are also some Ministerial Staff in the
Commission to support administrative works

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Present Strength of the Commission:

Proposed Strength of the Commission:

 Functions of the Commission

The functions of the Commission have been described in Section 6 of the Act. Under the Section the functions of the Commission will be as follows:

(a)  to identify the causes of delay of civil and criminal cases in various  courts and with a view to accelerate their disposal and ensure justice as quickly as possible:

(1)  to recommend amendment of laws concerned or enactment of new laws in appropriate cases after examination;
(2) to recommend necessary reforms in order to modernize the judicial system;
(3) to recommend training and other measures for the improvement of the efficiency of the persons involved with the judicial system such as judicial officers, staff, law officers and lawyers;
(4) to recommend necessary measures for improvement of the entire judicial system and specially to prevent the abuse of the application of the laws concerned:
(5) to recommend modernization of different aspects of court management, such as, distribution of works among judges, supply of copies, transmission and preservation of records, service of notices and other relevant matters;
(6)  to recommend, an acceptable measure regarding the feasibility of introducing a more efficient and accountable system in place of the present system for conducting the various government cases properly and establishing a separate investigating agency for the investigation of the criminal cases;

b)  keeping in mind the attraction of domestic and foreign investment and necessity of free market economy-

(1)  to recommend amendment of relevant laws including company law or legislation of new law in appropriate cases in order to create competitive atmosphere in the field of trade and industry and to avoid monopoly;
(2)  to recommend, after examination, measures with regard to relevant laws especially copyright, trademarks, patents, arbitration, contract, registration and similar other matters;
(3) to recommend necessary measures for the establishment of separate courts for disposal of cases arising out of commercial and bank loan matters;

(c) to recommend necessary and timely amendments and reforms of the existing electoral laws administered by the Bangladesh Election Commission;

(d) to recommend, after examination, necessary reforms of the existing laws and enactment of new laws in appropriate cases, in order to safeguard the rights of women and children and prevent repression of women;

(e) to recommend reforms of existing laws, enactment of new laws in appropriate cases and taking of other acceptable measures for the proper implementation of legal- aid programs;

(f)  to identify the various laws which conflict with each other on the same subject and in probable cases, to recommend codification and unification of various laws on the same subject;

(g)  to recommend repeal of existing laws which are inconsistent with the fundamental rights and in appropriate cases making amendments with regard thereto;

(h) to recommend, after identification repeal of obsolete and unnecessary laws and in case of necessity, legislation of laws on any subject;

(i)   to recommend acceptable measures for the upgrading of legal education, and
(j)   to recommend with regard to other legal matters referred by the government from time to time.

Working Methodology of the Commission

On the basis of Section 6A of the Law Commission Act 1996, the Commission prepares a work plan for each two-year on the conduct of its affairs in which laws are taken on priority basis for review. The said plan is sent to the Government. The Government sends its opinion/recommendations if any on the work  plan.  The  Commission  after  considering  the opinion/recommendations made by the Government finalizes the work plan and informs the Government. The Commission in its meeting discusses the priorities of laws of the work plan and reference if any, made by the Government. In the Commission's meeting each member is assigned to prepare a working paper/report with the assistance of a Research Officer. Then the Research team considering the nature and scope of the research of the law adopts different methodologies for collection of data and in appropriate cases studies foreign system of law to see how they meet similar problems. The team in the working paper delineates different deficiencies and drawbacks of the law and suggests provisional recommendations regarding removal thereof. The working paper prepared by the team is placed before the Commission for consideration and approval. After approval the paper is widely circulated among the different stakeholders for comments  and  suggestions. The team scrutinizes different views received from the stakeholders and thereafter the Commission prepares final report and draft bill if necessary, and sends them to the government for necessary action. In addition to the work plan the Commission also works and recommends on the matters referred by the government from time to time.

Meetings

The Law Commission usually meets on a weekly basis. Additionally the Commission meets at any time if urgent situation arises.

Work Plan for the Year 2002-2003

Under Section 6A of the Act the Commission is to prepare a work plan for each two-year on the conduct of its affairs. Pursuant to the section the Commission prepared a work plan for the year 2002-2003.The following laws/matters have been taken for making review for the year 2002-2003.

1.   Examination of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (Act V of 1908) for the purpose of amendment and re-enactment, if any.

2.   Examination of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (Act V of 1898) for the purpose of amendment and re-enactment, if any.

3.   Review of Certain Provisions of the Penal Code, 1860 (Act XLV of 1860).

4.   Review of the Small Causes Courts Act, 1887 (Act IX of 1887), if any.

5.   Reforms of Hindu Law, if any.

6.   Law Relating to Right to Information.

7.   Law on Information Technology and Electronic Transaction.

8.  The Divorces Act, 1869 (Act IV of 1869).

9.  The Christian Marriage Act, 1872 (Act XV of 1872).

10. The Naval Ordinance.

11. The Citizenship Act, 1951.

12. Law on Human Rights.

13. Examination of the Law on Legal Aid.

14. Law on Conciliation.

15. Project/ Projects/ Studies/ Tour/ Conferences/ Workshops/ Seminars for the Improvement and Modernization of Judicial Administration System.

16. During the Period the Commission shall also deal with any reference as may be sent to it by the Government from time to time.

Conclusion

The Commission's recommendations for reform of law will bring the desired result only if they are made into Acts of Parliament. The Law Commission can make research and recommendations, but Parliament alone can change the law for the welfare of the people. As a result of the Commission's ongoing work, large areas of the law have been the subject of systematic research and improvement.

Location And Address of Law Commission

The Law Commission is situated in the city centre of Dhaka beside the Supreme Court of Bangladesh. It is 16 Kilo meters far from the Zia International  Air Port. The Law Commission Building is provided in a historical building. The official address of the Commission is :

Bangladesh Law Commission
Old High Court Building, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh.
Phone-880-2-9559004-5
Fax- 880-2-9660843