Service: Indian Legal Service (ILS)
Current Position: Secretary, Legislative Department, Ministry of Law & Justice
Date of Appointment: January 2024
🏛️ Background and Career
Dr. Rajiv Mani is a senior officer of the Indian Legal Service with significant experience in legal drafting and government advisory roles. He was appointed as Secretary of the Legislative Department in January 2024 by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet. Prior to this, he held senior positions within the Ministry of Law & Justice and contributed to major legal reforms.
He succeeded the acting head of the department and took formal charge for a tenure of two years or until further orders.
đź“Ś Role and Responsibilities
As Secretary of the Legislative Department, Dr. Mani oversees the government’s legal drafting processes. His responsibilities include:
- Drafting bills, ordinances, and amendments for the Government of India
- Reviewing legislative proposals from various ministries
- Providing expert legal advice on constitutional and statutory matters
- Coordinating with parliamentary and legal bodies on legislative initiatives
🔍 Contributions and Initiatives
Dr. Mani has been involved in reform-oriented legislative initiatives aimed at improving legal clarity and efficiency. Notably, he has emphasized reducing timelines for commercial litigation and promoting mechanisms such as arbitration and mediation to resolve disputes more swiftly. Under his leadership, the department has worked on proposed amendments to streamline arbitration laws and strengthen India’s commercial dispute resolution framework.
đź“ť Summary
Dr. Rajiv Mani’s appointment as Secretary (Legislative) represents a continuation of India’s effort to modernize its legislative drafting and legal frameworks. With deep experience in law and governance, he plays a key role in shaping India’s legal and legislative processes to meet contemporary challenges and ensure efficient policymaking.