Why in news
- Parliament passed the Tribunal Reforms Bill, 2026, formalizing the establishment of the National Tribunal Commission.
What is the Tribunal Reforms Act, 2021?
- Statute governing the appointment, tenure, and service conditions of members across various quasi-judicial tribunals in India.
- Provisions fixing four-year tenures and minimum age requirements were struck down by the Supreme Court in 2021 for compromising judicial independence.
Key changes in the 2026 Bill
- Establishes the National Tribunal Commission (NTC) as an independent apex statutory regulator for quasi-judicial bodies.
- Transfers member search and selection oversight to the NTC to eliminate executive dominance in tribunal appointments.
Why it matters
- Enforces separation of powers under Article 50 by insulating administrative tribunals from executive bias.
- Addresses persistent structural vacancies and excessive writ litigation directly reaching High Courts.
Key terms
National Tribunal Commission
An apex statutory body designed to independently oversee member appointments, infrastructure, and administration of quasi-judicial tribunals.
Quasi-Judicial Body
An entity other than a court, such as a tribunal, given powers resembling those of a court to adjudicate specific statutory disputes.
Prelims facts
- Tribunals were incorporated into the Constitution via Articles 323A and 323B by the 42nd Amendment in 1976.
Mains discussion
- Assess whether an independent National Tribunal Commission effectively restores judicial independence under Article 50.
Source: LiveMint
PYQ trend
When UPSC asked this
Related PYQs from other years, newest first. Open a question to read it.
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2016 · Q8 · GS II · 12 marks
What is quasi judicial body? Explain with the help of concrete examples.