The Ministry of Law and Justice is the oldest limb of the Government of India dating back to 1833 when the Charter Act 1833 was enacted by the British Parliament. The said Act vested for the first time legislative power in a single authority, namely the Governor-General in Council. By virtue of this authority and the authority vested under him under section 22 of the Indian Councils Act 1861, the Governor-General in Council enacted laws for the country from 1834 to 1920. After the commencement of the Government of India Act 1919 the legislative power was exercised by the Indian Legislature constituted thereunder. The Government of India Act 1919 was followed by the Government of India Act 1935. With the passing of the Indian Independence Act, of 1947 India became a Dominion and the Dominion Legislature made laws from 1947 to 1949 under the provisions of section 100 of the Government of India Act 1935 as adopted by the India (Provisional Constitution) Order 1947. Under the Constitution of India which came into force on the 26th of January 1950 the legislative power is vested in Parliament.
The Ministry of Law and Justice comprises of the Legislative Department and the Department of Legal Affairs. The Department of Legal Affairs is concerned with advising the various Ministries of the Central Government while the Legislative Department is concerned with the drafting of principal legislation for the Central Government. India Code which consists of laws enacted from the previous century and which are in force in the territory of India is available on the net