JOINT CIRCULAR
Guidelines on the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Department of Justice under the People's Committee at the provincial level, the Justice Office under the People's Committee at the district level, and the Justice Work of the People's Committee at the commune level
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Pursuant to Decree No. 13/2008/NĐ-CP dated February 4, 2008 of the Government stipulating the organization of specialized agencies under the People's Committee of provinces and centrally governed cities;
Pursuant to Decree No. 16/2009/NĐ-CP dated February 16, 2009 of the Government amending and supplementing Clause 2, Article 8 of Decree No. 13/2008/NĐ-CP dated February 4, 2008 of the Government stipulating the organization of specialized agencies under the People's Committee of provinces and centrally governed cities;
Pursuant to Decree No. 14/2008/NĐ-CP dated February 4, 2008 of the Government stipulating the organization of specialized agencies under the People's Committee of districts, towns, and cities under provinces;
Pursuant to Decree No. 178/2007/NĐ-CP dated December 3, 2007 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of Ministries and ministerial-level agencies;
Pursuant to Decree No. 93/2008/NĐ-CP dated August 22, 2008, promulgated by the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Justice;
Pursuant to Decree No. 48/2008/NĐ-CP dated April 17, 2008 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Home Affairs;
The Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Home Affairs issue guidelines on the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Department of Justice under the People's Committee at the provincial level, the Justice Office under the People's Committee at the district level, and the Justice Work of the People's Committee at the commune level as follows:
PART I
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Article 1. Position and Functions
1. The Department of Justice is a specialized agency under the People's Committee of provinces and centrally governed cities (hereinafter referred to as the People's Committee at the provincial level), advising and assisting the People's Committee at the provincial level in performing state management functions regarding: drafting and implementing normative legal documents; inspecting and handling normative legal documents; popularizing and educating the law; civil enforcement; notarization; authentication; international adoption; commercial arbitration; civil status registration; nationality; criminal record; lawyer services; legal consultation; legal aid; forensic examination; grassroots mediation; public auction of assets, and other justice work as prescribed by law.
2. The Department of Justice has legal personality, its own seal and separate bank account; it is subject to the direction and management of the People's Committee at the provincial level concerning organization, staffing, and personnel work; simultaneously, it is subject to the direction, guidance, and inspection of the Ministry of Justice concerning professional and technical matters.
b) Draft five-year and annual socio-economic development plans for the province; major economic and social balances for the province; draft five-year and annual plans, programs, projects, measures to organize and implement tasks related to socio-economic development, finance-budget, planning-investment, and other tasks within the scope of state management of the Department of Finance as prescribed by law;
1. Submit to the provincial People's Committee:
a) Drafting decisions, directives, and other documents within the scope of authority of the People's Committee in the field of justice;
b) Drafting long-term plans, five-year plans, annual plans, and programs, projects, measures for organizing the implementation of administrative reform, judicial reform, and the construction and improvement of the legal system within the scope of state management of the Department of Justice;
c) Drafting planning documents for the development of the profession of lawyers, notaries, public auctioneers, and other justice professions in the localities under the scope of state management of the Department of Justice;
d) Drafting legal documents specifying conditions and standards for positions of heads and deputy heads of organizations under the Department of Justice; heads and deputy heads of Justice Offices under the People's Committee at the district level (hereinafter referred to as the People's Committee at the district level).
2. Submitting to the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee:
a) Drafting decisions on establishing, merging, and dissolving organizations under the Department of Justice;
b) Drafting decisions and directives within the authority of the Chairman of the People's Committee at the provincial level regarding the management of justice work in the locality.
3. Directing, inspecting, and organizing the implementation of normative legal documents, plans, programs, projects, and proposals already decided and approved within the scope and authority of state management over justice work assigned.
4. On legislative document drafting:
a) Cooperating with the Office of the People's Committee at the provincial level to submit to the People's Committee at the provincial level for approval and adjustment of the program for drafting normative legal documents of the People's Committee at the provincial level; cooperating with the Department of Home Affairs and the Department of Finance to draft the proposed program for drafting resolutions of the Provincial People's Council for submission to the Provincial People's Council according to the provisions of the law;
b) Cooperating in drafting draft normative legal documents within the authority of the People's Committee at the provincial level which are primarily drafted by other specialized agencies under the People's Committee at the provincial level;
c) Reviewing draft normative legal documents issued by the People's Council and the People's Committee at the provincial level according to the provisions of the law;
d) Organize public opinion on draft normative legal documents according to the direction of the Provincial People's Committee and the Ministry of Justice;
5. Regarding the implementation of normative legal documents:
a) Generally monitoring the implementation of normative legal documents in the locality;
b) Providing professional and technical guidance on monitoring the implementation of laws within the scope of management to specialized agencies under the People's Committee at the provincial level and the People's Committee at the district level;
c) Summarizing and reporting the situation of the implementation of normative legal documents in the locality and proposing solutions to address difficulties and obstacles in the implementation of normative legal documents to the People's Committee at the provincial level and the Ministry of Justice.
6. On inspecting regulatory legal documents:
a) Assist the Provincial People's Committee in self-inspecting documents issued by the Provincial People's Committee;
b) Inspecting normative legal documents of the People's Council and the People's Committee at the district level; guiding specialized agencies under the People's Committee at the district level to self-inspect normative legal documents and inspect normative legal documents of the People's Committee at the commune level according to the provisions of the law;
c) Inspecting and urging the implementation of measures to handle unlawful normative legal documents according to the provisions of the law.
7. Organizing the implementation of the review and systematization of normative legal documents of the People's Council and the People's Committee at the provincial level; guiding and inspecting the implementation of the review and systematization of normative legal documents by the People's Committee at the district level and specialized agencies under the People's Committee at the provincial level.
8. Regarding the dissemination and education of the law:
a) Implementing programs and plans for the dissemination and education of the law in the locality after being approved by the Chairman of the People's Committee at the provincial level;
b) Serving as the Secretariat of the Provincial Coordination Council for the Dissemination and Education of the Law.
c) Establish a team of legal advisors; compile and distribute materials to serve the dissemination and education of laws;
d) Organize information, propaganda, dissemination, and education on laws related to the sectors under the management of the Department of Justice;
đ) Guide the construction, management, and exploitation of legal bookshelves at commune level and other agencies and units in accordance with the provisions of the law;
9. Take the lead and coordinate with the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and relevant departments to assist the provincial People's Committee in guiding the establishment of village regulations, community rules, and other forms consistent with legal provisions;
10. Assist the provincial People's Committee in performing the tasks and powers of the provincial People's Committee in civil enforcement work according to the provisions of the law;
11. Regarding notarization and authentication:
a) Implement planning and programs for the development of notary practices in the locality after approval by the provincial People's Committee; advise and propose measures to support the development of notary organizations to the provincial People's Committee;
b) Guide and inspect the organization and activities of local notary offices and notary public offices;
c) Receive and inspect files submitted to the provincial People's Committee for permission to establish or revoke decisions to establish notary public offices; issue and revoke registration certificates for notary public offices;
Organize the implementation of plans for establishing or dissolving notary offices upon approval by the provincial People's Committee;
d) Recommend the Minister of Justice to appoint or dismiss Notaries;
đ) Guide, inspect, and provide training for specialized agencies under the district People's Committees and civil servants in charge of household registration under the commune People's Committees regarding issuing certified copies from original records, authenticating copies from originals, and authenticating signatures;
12. Regarding household registration, nationality, foreign-related adoption, and criminal record:
a) Direct and guide the organization and implementation of household registration and management work for district Justice Offices and specialized staff under the commune People's Committees;
b) Develop a system for organizing and managing household registration, and provide training for personnel involved in household registration work;
c) Directly handle matters concerning household registration and foreign-related adoption within their jurisdiction as prescribed by law and directed by the provincial People's Committee;
d) Review files and submit them to the provincial People's Committee for resolution of matters concerning household registration and adoption within the Committee’s jurisdiction as prescribed by law;
đ) Propose the provincial People's Committee to decide on revoking or nullifying household registration documents issued by district People's Committees that violate legal provisions;
e) Manage, use, and store household registration books and forms in accordance with legal provisions; issue certified copies of household registration documents from the household registration books;
g) Issue Criminal Record Certificates, manage, and store criminal record files in accordance with legal provisions;
h) Accept and review files concerning nationality, submit them to the provincial People's Committee for consideration and resolution according to their authority; manage and store nationality files;
13. Regarding lawyers and legal consultation:
a) Review files and submit them to the provincial People's Committee for permission to establish, dissolve, or approve the Charter of Bar Associations;
b) Issue and revoke Registration Certificates for lawyer practice organizations, Legal Consultation Centers, and Legal Consultant Certificates;
c) Provide information about the registration activities of law firms and law companies to state agencies, organizations, and individuals as required by law; request lawyer practice organizations to report on their operations when necessary;
d) Implement planning and programs for the development of lawyer practice organizations in the locality after approval by the provincial People's Committee; advise and propose measures to support the development of lawyer practice organizations to the provincial People's Committee;
đ) Organize training for legal consultation skills; support organizations in providing professional training for legal consultants as prescribed by law;
e) Guide and inspect the organization and activities of Bar Associations, lawyer practice organizations, and Legal Consultation Centers within their authority;
14. Regarding legal aid:
a) Manage and guide the organization and activities of State Legal Aid Centers and their branches; the participation in legal aid activities of law firms, law companies, and Legal Consultation Centers as prescribed by law;
b) Organize professional training for legal aid practitioners within the locality;
c) Issue, change, and revoke Registration Certificates for participation in legal aid for law firms, law companies, and Legal Consultation Centers;
d) Decide on recognizing, issuing, and revoking Legal Aid Volunteer Cards;
15. Regarding auctioning assets:
a) Implement planning for the development of auction organizations in the locality after approval by the provincial People's Committee; advise and propose measures to support the development of auction organizations to the provincial People's Committee;
b) Inspect and audit the organization and activities of asset auctions within the locality according to their authority;
16. Assist the provincial People's Committee in managing state affairs concerning judicial appraisal work and commercial arbitration according to the provisions of the law;
17. Guide and inspect grassroots mediation work according to the provisions of the law;
18. Direct, guide, and inspect the professional work of the legal department of specialized agencies under the provincial People's Committee and state-owned enterprises; organize or coordinate the implementation of legal support activities for businesses as prescribed by law;
19. Organize and direct inspection and supervision of the implementation of laws within the management scope of the Department of Justice; resolve complaints and denunciations; implement anti-corruption and waste measures and handle violations of the law as prescribed by law.
20. Implement international cooperation on law and judicial work in accordance with the provisions of the law.
21. Organize research and application of science and information technology in fields under the management of the Department of Justice.
22. Carry out information, statistics, compilation, regular and urgent reporting on the situation of performing tasks in assigned areas of work according to the regulations of the provincial People's Committee and the Ministry of Justice.
23. Define the functions, tasks, powers, and working relationships of subordinate organizations under the Department of Justice; manage staffing, implement salary systems and incentive policies, training, commendation, and disciplinary measures for cadres, civil servants, public officials, and employees under the management of the Department of Justice in accordance with the law and the delegation of the provincial People's Committee.
24. Guide and inspect the implementation of the self-management mechanism and responsibility of subordinate public service organizations under the Department of Justice in accordance with the law.
25. Manage finance and assets in accordance with the law and the delegation of the provincial People's Committee.
26. Perform other tasks assigned by the provincial People's Committee or as stipulated by the law.
đ) Based on the regulations on the delegation of organizational and cadre management, the Director of the Department decides or submits to the competent authority for decisions regarding the appointment and dismissal of heads and deputy heads of units under the Department according to the position standards set by the provincial people's committee;
1. Leadership of the Department:
a) The Department of Justice has a Director and not more than three Deputy Directors; for Hanoi City and Ho Chi Minh City, not more than four Deputy Directors;
b) The Director of the Department is the head of the Department, responsible before the People's Committee, the Chairman of the provincial People's Committee, and the law for all activities of the Department and the performance of its functions, tasks, and powers assigned;
c) The Deputy Director of the Department assists the Director, responsible before the Director and the law for the tasks assigned. When the Director is absent, one Deputy Director is entrusted by the Director to oversee the operations of the Department;
d) The appointment of the Director and Deputy Directors of the Department is decided by the Chairman of the provincial People's Committee based on professional standards issued by the Ministry of Justice and other relevant legal documents;
đ) The removal, transfer, commendation, disciplinary action, resignation, retirement, and implementation of policies and systems for the Director and Deputy Directors of the Department are decided by the Chairman of the provincial People's Committee in accordance with the law.
2. Organizational Structure:
a) Organizations established uniformly under the Departments of Justice include:
- Office;
- Inspection.
The establishment of the Personnel Office under the Department or the personnel section within the Department's Office is decided by the Chairman of the provincial People's Committee.
b) Professional offices:
Professional offices are established in accordance with the characteristics of each locality in the following areas: drafting and implementing legal normative documents; inspecting legal normative documents; popularizing and educating the law; administrative justice; judicial support; managing lawyers; other areas.
Based on the workload, nature, and characteristics of local judicial work, the Director of the Department of Justice, in coordination with the Director of the Department of Civil Service Management, submits to the Chairman of the provincial People's Committee for specific decisions on the names and number of professional offices to cover the areas under the Department's jurisdiction, but the number of professional offices shall not exceed five for provinces, seven for Hanoi City and Ho Chi Minh City.
c) Public service organizations under the Department:
- Notary Departments;
- National Legal Aid Center;
- Asset Auction Service Center.
The aforementioned public service organizations and other public service organizations (if any) directly under the Department are decided by the provincial People's Committee in accordance with the law.
3. Staffing:
a) Based on the functions, tasks, workload, nature, and characteristics of local judicial work, the Director of the Department of Justice, in coordination with the Director of the Department of Civil Service Management, submits to the Chairman of the provincial People's Committee for decisions on the administrative staffing of the Department of Justice within the total administrative staffing of the province;
b) The staffing of public service organizations under the Department of Justice is determined by the provincial People's Committee according to staffing norms and legal regulations;
c) Recruitment and placement of cadres, civil servants, and public officials of the Department of Justice must be based on job positions, titles, standards, and the structure of civil servant and public official ranks as prescribed.
Chapter II
LEGAL DEPARTMENT
1. The position and functions of the Social and Cultural Department shall be carried out in accordance with Article 11 of Decree No. 150/2025/NĐ-CP.
1. The Justice Office is a specialized agency under the People's Committee of the district; advises and assists the People's Committee of the district in performing state management functions regarding: construction and enforcement of legal normative documents; inspection and handling of legal normative documents; popularization and education of the law; civil execution; certification; household registration; legal aid; grassroots mediation, and other judicial work as stipulated by the law.
2. The Justice Office has legal personality, its own seal and account; it is subject to the direction and management of organization, staffing, and work by the People's Committee of the district; at the same time, it is subject to professional guidance, inspection by the Department of Justice.
Article 5. Tasks and Powers
1. Submit to the People's Committee of the district guiding documents on judicial work and organize their implementation on the territory in accordance with the regulations.
2. Submit to the People's Committee of the district for issuance of decisions, directives, five-year plans, annual plans in the field under the management of the Office; programs and measures to organize the implementation of administrative reform, judicial reform, and the development and improvement of legal systems in the fields under the assigned state management authority.
3. Submit draft documents on judicial matters within the authority of the Chairman of the People's Committee of the district for approval by the Chairman of the People's Committee of the district.
4. Implement legal normative documents, planning, and plans approved by competent authorities within the Office's jurisdiction.
5. Regarding legislative document construction:
a) Cooperating in drafting decisions and directives within the jurisdiction of the District People's Committee, which are primarily developed by other specialized agencies under the District People's Committee;
b) Review draft legal normative documents issued by the People's Committee of the district in accordance with the law; provide comments on draft legal normative documents of the People's Council of the district in accordance with the law;
c) Organizing public opinion on draft laws and ordinances according to the guidance of the District People's Committee and the Department of Justice.
6. Regarding the enforcement of legal normative documents:
a) Generally monitor the enforcement of legal normative documents on the territory;
b) Provide professional guidance and advice on monitoring the enforcement of laws in the managed area to specialized agencies under the People's Committee of the district and specialized civil servants under the People's Committee of the commune.
c) Summarize, report on the implementation of regulatory legal documents and propose measures to address difficulties and obstacles in implementing such documents within their jurisdiction to the People's Committee at the district level and the Department of Justice.
7. Regarding inspection of legislative documents:
a) Assist the People's Committee at the district level in self-inspecting documents issued by the People's Committee at the district level; guide specialized civil servants under the People's Committee at the commune level in self-inspecting regulatory legal documents issued by the People's Committee at the commune level.
b) Conduct inspections of regulatory legal documents issued by the People's Council and the People's Committee at the commune level in accordance with the law; submit to the Chairman of the People's Committee at the district level for decision on measures to handle illegal documents in accordance with the law.
8. Review and systematize regulatory legal documents issued by the People's Council and the People's Committee at the district level; guide and inspect the implementation of reviews and systematization of regulatory legal documents by the People's Committee at the commune level and specialized agencies under the People's Committee at the district level.
9. Regarding popularizing and educating the law:
a) Implement programs and plans for popularizing and educating the law after approval by the People's Committee at the district level;
b) Serve as the permanent body of the coordination council for popularizing and educating the law at the district level;
c) Guide and inspect the construction, management, and utilization of legal libraries at the commune level and other agencies in accordance with the law;
10. Examine draft village regulations and community conventions before submitting them to the Chairman of the People's Committee at the district level for approval.
11. Regarding certification:
a) Guide, inspect, and train specialized civil servants under the People's Committee at the commune level in issuing certified copies from original registers, certifying copies from originals, and certifying signatures;
b) Certify copies from original documents in foreign languages; certify the signatures of translators in documents translated from foreign languages to Vietnamese or vice versa; certify signatures on documents in foreign languages;
c) Perform other certifications as prescribed by law.
12. Regarding management and registration of household records:
a) Direct, guide, and inspect the organization and implementation of household registration and management work within their jurisdiction; organize training for judicial officers and household registration staff at the commune level;
b) Assist the People's Committee at the district level in handling changes, corrections to household registration for individuals aged 14 years and older, and re-determining nationality, gender, supplementing, and adjusting household registration for all cases regardless of age, and issuing certified copies of household registration documents from the household register in accordance with the law;
c) Manage household registration books and forms; store household registration books and documents in accordance with the law;
d) Propose the People's Committee at the district level to decide on the recovery and cancellation of household registration documents issued by the People's Committee at the commune level that violate the law (except for marriage registrations that violate the conditions for marriage registration as stipulated by the law on marriage and family);
13. Mediation at the grassroots level and legal aid:
Organize and implement legal provisions on mediation at the grassroots level; organize training for grassroots mediation staff according to the guidance of the People's Committee at the district level and higher judicial authorities;
Carry out legal aid tasks as prescribed by law.
14. Assist the People's Committee at the district level in performing its duties and powers in civil enforcement work within their jurisdiction in accordance with the law.
15. Direct, guide, and inspect professional matters related to judicial work at the commune level.
16. Take the lead and coordinate with relevant agencies to inspect and audit the implementation of laws concerning judicial activities within their jurisdiction; resolve complaints and denunciations; prevent corruption, promote thrift, and combat waste in judicial activities within their jurisdiction in accordance with the law and the delegation of the People's Committee at the district level.
17. Manage staffing, implement systems, policies, incentives, rewards, disciplinary actions, training, and professional development for civil servants, public officials, and workers under the Office in accordance with the law and the delegation of the People's Committee at the district level.
18. Manage the financial affairs and assets of the Office in accordance with the law and the delegation of the People's Committee at the district level.
19. Fulfill regular and ad hoc reporting requirements on the implementation of assigned tasks in accordance with the regulations of the People's Committee at the district level and the Department of Justice.
20. Perform other tasks assigned by the People's Committee and the Chairman of the People's Committee at the district level.
Article 6. Organization and Staffing
1. The Legal Office has a Director; not more than two Deputy Directors and other civil servants.
a) The Director is responsible to the People's Committee, the Chairman of the People's Committee at the district level, and the law for the performance of assigned functions, tasks, and powers and the overall operation of the Office.
b) Deputy Directors assist the Director and are responsible to the Director and the law for the tasks assigned to them. When the Director is absent, one Deputy Director appointed by the Director will manage the Office's operations.
c) The appointment of the Director and Deputy Directors is decided by the Chairman of the People's Committee at the district level based on professional standards set by the People's Committee at the provincial level and in accordance with the law.
d) The transfer, rotation, commendation, punishment, removal, resignation, and implementation of systems and policies for the Director and Deputy Directors are decided by the Chairman of the People's Committee at the district level in accordance with the law.
2. The staffing of the Legal Office is determined by the Chairman of the People's Committee at the district level within the total administrative staffing allocated by the provincial People's Committee, ensuring effective task performance.
Chapter III
JUDICIAL WORK OF THE PEOPLE'S COMMITTEE AT THE COMMUNE LEVEL
Article 7. Tasks and Powers
The People's Committee at the commune level performs state management functions regarding judicial work within their jurisdiction and has the following tasks and powers:
1. Issue and implement programs, plans, decisions, and directives on judicial work at the commune level; monitor and inspect the implementation after being decided or approved by the competent authority.
2. Organize to solicit public opinions on draft laws and ordinances in accordance with the guidance of the People's Committee at the district level and the higher judicial authority.
3. Implement self-inspection of decisions and directives issued by the People's Committee at the commune level; review normative legal documents issued by the People's Council and People's Committee at the commune level; direct and guide the construction of village regulations and neighborhood conventions in compliance with current legal provisions.
4. Monitor and report on the implementation of normative legal documents; identify and propose measures to resolve difficulties and obstacles in the implementation of normative legal documents at the commune level to the Judicial Office at the district level.
5. Organize the implementation of programs and plans for popularizing and educating about the law; manage, exploit, and utilize the Law Bookcase at the commune level.
6. Implement legal provisions regarding the organization and operation of grassroots reconciliation; provide training and supply professional materials to members of the Reconciliation Team within their jurisdiction according to the guidance of the higher judicial authority.
7. Carry out registration and re-registration of births, deaths, marriages, and adoption; change and correct household registration for individuals under 14 years old and supplement household registration for all cases regardless of age; register late births and deaths as prescribed by law; manage and use various types of household registers and forms as stipulated by the Ministry of Justice; store household registers and household-related documents; issue certified copies of household-related documents from the household register.
8. Perform certain nationality matters within their authority as prescribed by law.
9. Issue certified copies from original books, certify copies from originals of documents and texts in Vietnamese; certify signatures in documents and texts in Vietnamese; certify other matters as prescribed by law.
10. Coordinate with civil enforcement agencies in enforcing civil judgments within their jurisdiction as prescribed by law.
11. Report periodically and urgently on the implementation of assigned judicial management tasks to the People's Committee at the district level and the Judicial Office.
12. Perform other tasks assigned by the People's Committee at the district level.
Article 8. Judicial and Household Registration Civil Servants
1. At the commune level, there shall be Judicial and Household Registration Civil Servants who assist the People's Committee at the commune level in organizing the implementation of tasks and powers as stipulated in Article 7 of this Joint Circular.
2. For communes, towns, and wards with a large workload, based on specific local conditions, the People's Committee at the provincial level shall be responsible for assigning sufficient Judicial and Household Registration staff to ensure the effective performance of assigned tasks.
Chapter IV
IMPLEMENTATION
Article 9. Effective Date
This Joint Circular shall take effect forty-five days from the date of issuance. This Joint Circular replaces Joint Circular No. 04/2005/TTLT-TP-NV dated May 5, 2005, issued by the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Home Affairs guiding the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of specialized agencies assisting the People's Committee in managing state administration of judicial work at the local level.
Article 10. Responsibility for Implementation
1. Provincial People's Committees shall be responsible for:
a) Specify the tasks, powers, organizational structure, and staffing of the Department of Justice; direct and guide the People's Committee at the district level to specify the tasks, powers, and staffing of the Judicial Office.
b) Based on the characteristics and socio-economic development situation of the locality, decide on the establishment, merger, dissolution, division, and restructuring of affiliated organizations under the Department of Justice according to the approved planning and guidance provided in this Joint Circular.
2. The Chairman of the provincial People's Committee is responsible for organizing and implementing this Circular Jointly Issued.
In the course of implementation, if there are difficulties or need for supplementation or amendment, the Provincial People's Committee shall report to the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Home Affairs for consideration and resolution within their respective authorities./.