Syllabus: GS-II
Subject: Polity
Topic: Institutions
Issue: Law Commission of India
Context:Â 22nd Law Commission recommendations.
- The commission recommended that criminal defamation should be retained within the scheme of criminal laws in India.
- The right to reputation is derived from Article 21 (Right to life and personal liberty) of the Constitution and hence needs to be protected.
- The recommendation is aligned with the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Subramanian Swamy case.
- The case affirmed the constitutionality of criminal defamation under Section 499 of the IPC 1860, as a reasonable restriction under Article 19(2) of the Constitution.
Law Commission of India
- An executive body established by an order of the Government of India.
- Function : To research and advise the government on legal reforms.
- 22nd Law Commission was appointed with Justice Rituraj Awasthi as the chairperson.
