New Delhi, 10 August (H.S.): The Lok Sabha on Monday passed the Tribunals Reforms Bill, 2026, amid uproar in the House. The legislation provides for the establishment of a National Tribunals Commission and seeks to introduce a uniform framework for the appointment and service conditions of chairpersons and members of various tribunals.

Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal introduced the Bill in the Lok Sabha. According to the statement of objects and reasons accompanying the legislation, a new law was enacted in 2021 to govern the selection and appointment of tribunal chairpersons and members, as well as their terms and conditions of service.

However, the Supreme Court subsequently struck down certain provisions of the 2021 legislation, observing that they were inconsistent with the principles of judicial independence and the separation of powers between the judiciary and the executive.

The Supreme Court had also called for the creation of an independent National Tribunals Commission to ensure that appointments to tribunals were conducted in a transparent, independent and effective manner.

Against this backdrop, the government has proposed replacing the 2021 law with the Tribunals Reforms Bill, 2026. The proposed legislation provides for the establishment of a National Tribunals Commission and lays down provisions concerning the qualifications, selection, appointment, salaries, service conditions and removal of tribunal chairpersons and members.

The Bill seeks to establish a more consistent institutional framework for the functioning of tribunals and their administration. It also aims to bring greater uniformity to the process governing appointments and service conditions across different tribunals.

The government had begun restructuring the tribunal system in 2015 as part of efforts to streamline and improve its functioning. In 2017, several tribunals were abolished, while some others were merged. The government was also empowered to frame rules concerning the qualifications, appointment and tenure of tribunal chairpersons and members.

The passage of the 2026 Bill marks another step in the government’s efforts to reorganise the tribunal system and establish a uniform framework for appointments, service conditions and administrative oversight.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar