Ministers of Law and Justice of India
The Ministers of Law and Justice of India play a vital role in shaping the nation’s legal and judicial framework. They oversee the drafting of laws, implementation of legal reforms, and ensure the smooth functioning of courts and tribunals. The ministry works to uphold justice, constitutional integrity, and provide legal support to the government in all matters.
List of Law and Justice ministers in India from 1947 to present:
Name | Duration | Political Party | Prime Minister |
Arjun Ram Meghwal | 18 May 2023 – Present | Bharatiya Janata Party | Narendra Modi |
Kiren Rijiju | 7 July 2021 – 18 May 2023 | Bharatiya Janata Party | Narendra Modi |
Ravi Shankar Prasad | 31 May 2019 – 7 July 2021 | Bharatiya Janata Party | Narendra Modi |
Ravi Shankar Prasad | 5 July 2016 – 30 May 2019 | Bharatiya Janata Party | Narendra Modi |
D. V. Sadananda Gowda | 9 November 2014 – 5 July 2016 | Bharatiya Janata Party | Narendra Modi |
Ravi Shankar Prasad | 27 May 2014 – 9 November 2014 | Bharatiya Janata Party | Narendra Modi |
Kapil Sibal | 11 May 2013 – 26 May 2014 | Indian National Congress | Manmohan Singh |
Ashwani Kumar | 28 October 2012 – 11 May 2013 | Indian National Congress | Manmohan Singh |
Salman Khurshid | 12 July 2011 – 28 October 2012 | Indian National Congress | Manmohan Singh |
Veerappa Moily | 28 May 2009 – 12 July 2011 | Indian National Congress | Manmohan Singh |
H. R. Bhardwaj | 23 May 2004 – 22 May 2009 | Indian National Congress | Manmohan Singh |
Arun Jaitley | 29 January 2003 – 22 May 2004 | Bharatiya Janata Party | Atal Bihari Vajpayee |
Jana Krishnamurthi | 1 July 2002 – 29 January 2003 | Bharatiya Janata Party | Atal Bihari Vajpayee |
Arun Jaitley | 24 July 2000 – 1 July 2002 | Bharatiya Janata Party | Atal Bihari Vajpayee |
Ram Jethmalani | 8 June 1999 – 23 July 2000 | Independent | Atal Bihari Vajpayee |
Rangarajan Kumaramangalam | 9 April 1999 – 8 June 1999 | Bharatiya Janata Party | Atal Bihari Vajpayee |
M. Thambidurai | 19 March 1998 – 8 April 1999 | AIADMK | Atal Bihari Vajpayee |
Ramakant Khalap | 29 June 1996 – 19 March 1998 | Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party | H. D. Deve Gowda / I. K. Gujral |
P. Chidambaram | 1 June 1996 – 29 June 1996 | Tamil Maanila Congress | H. D. Deve Gowda |
Ram Jethmalani | 16 May 1996 – 1 June 1996 | Independent | Atal Bihari Vajpayee |
P. V. Narasimha Rao | 9 October 1992 – 16 May 1996 | Indian National Congress | P. V. Narasimha Rao |
Kotla Vijaya Bhaskara Reddy | 21 June 1991 – 9 October 1992 | Indian National Congress | P. V. Narasimha Rao |
Subramanian Swamy | 21 November 1990 – 21 June 1991 | Janata Party | Chandra Shekhar |
Dinesh Goswami | 6 December 1989 – 10 November 1990 | Asom Gana Parishad | Vishwanath Pratap Singh |
B. Shankaranand | 25 June 1988 – 2 December 1989 | Indian National Congress | Rajiv Gandhi |
Bindeshwari Dubey | 14 February 1988 – 26 June 1988 | Indian National Congress | Rajiv Gandhi |
P. Shiv Shankar | 25 July 1987 – 14 February 1988 | Indian National Congress | Rajiv Gandhi |
Ashoke Kumar Sen | 31 December 1984 – 31 March 1987 | Indian National Congress | Rajiv Gandhi |
Jagannath Kaushal | 4 November 1984 – 31 December 1984 | Indian National Congress | Rajiv Gandhi |
Jagannath Kaushal | 15 January 1982 – 31 October 1984 | Indian National Congress | Indira Gandhi |
P. Shiv Shankar | 14 January 1980 – 15 January 1982 | Indian National Congress | Indira Gandhi |
Shyam Nath Kacker | 3 August 1979 – 14 January 1980 | Janata Party (Secular) | Charan Singh |
Hans Raj Khanna | 30 July 1979 – 3 August 1979 | Janata Party (Secular) | Charan Singh |
Shanti Bhushan | 26 March 1977 – 28 July 1979 | Janata Party | Morarji Desai |
H. R. Gokhale | 5 February 1973 – 24 March 1977 | Indian National Congress (R) | Indira Gandhi |
H. R. Gokhale | 18 March 1971 – 5 February 1973 | Indian National Congress (R) | Indira Gandhi |
Kengal Hanumanthaiah | 26 June 1970 – 18 March 1971 | Indian National Congress | Indira Gandhi |
Panampilly Govinda Menon | 13 March 1967 – 23 May 1970 | Indian National Congress | Indira Gandhi |
Gopal Swarup Pathak | 24 January 1966 – 13 March 1967 | Indian National Congress | Indira Gandhi |
Ashoke Kumar Sen | 18 April 1957 – 24 January 1966 | Indian National Congress | Jawaharlal Nehru / Lal Bahadur Shastri / Gulzarilal Nanda |
Charu Chandra Biswas | 13 May 1952 – 17 April 1957 | Indian National Congress | Jawaharlal Nehru |
Kailash Nath Katju | 5 November 1951 – 13 May 1952 | Indian National Congress | Jawaharlal Nehru |
B. R. Ambedkar | 15 August 1947 – 11 October 1951 | Scheduled Castes Federation | Jawaharlal Nehru |
FAQs on Minister of Law and Justice of India
- Who is the current Minister of Law and Justice of India?
As of now, Arjun Ram Meghwal serves as the Minister of Law and Justice of India.
- What are the responsibilities of the Law and Justice Minister?
The minister oversees law-making, judicial appointments, and the administration of justice across India, ensuring that all legislation aligns with the Constitution.
- How many departments are under the Ministry of Law and Justice?
The ministry comprises three departments — Legal Affairs, Legislative Department, and Department of Justice.
- Who was the first Law Minister of independent India?
Dr. B. R. Ambedkar was the first Law Minister of independent India, instrumental in drafting the Indian Constitution.
- Where can I find the list of all former Law and Justice Ministers?
You can find the complete list of current and former Ministers of Law and Justice of India on this page, including their tenure and key contributions.
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