New Delhi: The Central government on Thursday ended weeks of speculation by regularising the appointment of Dr. Anju Rathi Rana, a senior Indian Legal Service (ILS) officer, as the Member-Secretary of the 23rd Law Commission of India.
Dr. Rana succeeds Rita Vashisht, whose tenure concluded recently. The formal order issued by the government cements her position until August 31, 2027, aligning with the tenure of the 23rd Law Commission.
Dr. Rana has been serving as Secretary, Department of Legal Affairs, since March 5, 2025.
A Trailblazing Legal Administrator
The confirmation of her appointment marks another milestone in Dr. Rana’s distinguished career. She earlier created history by becoming the first woman to serve as Law Secretary (Secretary, Department of Legal Affairs).
Her journey in the Ministry of Law and Justice began in 2017 as Joint Secretary. She was later promoted as Additional Secretary in 2022, and subsequently took charge as Law Secretary, showcasing decades of leadership in legal administration.
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Role in the 23rd Law Commission
The 23rd Law Commission, constituted for a three-year term from September 1, 2024 to August 31, 2027, has been mandated to recommend legal reforms to strengthen India’s justice system.
The Commission is chaired by Justice (Retd.) Dinesh Maheshwari, former Supreme Court judge, who assumed office in April 2025. Dr. Rana’s regularised appointment is expected to ensure stability, continuity, and robust administrative support to the Commission’s reform agenda.
About Dr Anju Rathi Rana
Education, Early Career, and Prosecution Work
Dr. Anju Rathi Rana, born on April 8, holds a Bachelor of Laws from DAV College, Muzaffarnagar; a Master of Laws from Meerut College; and a PhD in Law from MDU Rohtak.
She began her professional journey in 1994 as an advocate at the District Court, Muzaffarnagar, assisting in drafting briefs and handling civil, criminal, and labour cases. In 1995, she joined the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti under the Ministry of Education as a legal assistant, managing court cases and representing the Samiti before various judicial forums until 1999.
Following this, she served for 18 years as an additional/assistant public prosecutor at the Directorate of Prosecution, Tis Hazari Courts, GNCTD. During this tenure, she represented the Delhi government in Sessions and Magistrate Courts, handled crucial criminal matters, and provided legal advice.
Senior Government Roles, Leadership, and Institutional Contributions
In 2017, Dr. Rana joined the Ministry of Law and Justice as Joint Secretary and Legal Advisor, offering legal guidance to ministries, managing litigation, and overseeing administrative duties. She was promoted to Additional Secretary in 2022. She has organized major events such as the 19th Meeting of Prosecutors General of SCO Member States and led the Indian delegation at the UNDOC Indian Ocean Forum in Seychelles in 2023.
Dr. Rana is an ex-officio member of several key institutions, including the Law Commission of India, the India International Arbitration Centre, the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India, and the Indian Law Institute—where she serves on its Governing, Executive, and Finance Committees. She also holds positions with the Board of Trustees of the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru; the Executive Council of the Institute of Constitutional and Parliamentary Studies; and the Governing Body of the Indian Council of Arbitration.
She has chaired the Capacity Building Unit under the Mission Karmayogi Programme and has served as Presiding Officer for Election Tribunals under the Chartered Accountants Act, the Company Secretaries Act, and the Cost and Works Accountants Act. Her academic achievements include two gold medals in LLB and second position in the university during LLM.
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