Centre tells SC fresh tribunal reforms Bill likely in Monsoon Session

Centre Announces New Tribunal Reforms Legislation for Monsoon Session

Centre tells SC fresh tribunal reforms – The Centre has informed the Supreme Court that a new Tribunal Reforms Bill is expected to be introduced in the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament, following the court’s recent ruling that invalidated key provisions of the Tribunal Reforms Act, 2021. This development comes after nearly eight months of discussions, as the government aims to address concerns raised by legal bodies about the operational sustainability of tribunals. The focus keyword, “Centre tells SC fresh tribunal,” underscores the central theme of the legislative overhaul, which has been a topic of debate since the Act’s passage.

Supreme Court’s Concern Over Legislative Delays

During a recent hearing, Attorney General R Venkataramani stated that the government is finalizing a new bill, which the Centre tells SC fresh tribunal will be introduced in the current session. “We are in the final stages of preparing the tribunal reforms bill,” he emphasized, adding that the proposal is designed to align with the Supreme Court’s earlier directives. The court, however, expressed surprise at the delay, noting that the bill had not been included in the legislative agenda for the session. “We have not seen this (Bill) in the agenda of the current session,” remarked Chief Justice Surya Kant, highlighting the need for prompt action.

“A new bill is in the offing. We are in the final stages. The tribunal reforms bill…we will try to push this during this session,”

Venkataramani’s statement emphasized the government’s commitment to resolving the tribunal-related issues. The Centre tells SC fresh tribunal will include structural changes to address the challenges identified in the previous act, such as term limits and entry age requirements. The delay in introducing the new legislation has sparked questions about the Centre’s prioritization of tribunal reforms amid other pressing parliamentary matters.

Legal Petitions Drive the Need for Reform

The impetus for the new bill stems from petitions filed by the Revenue Bar Association and the CAT Bar Association, which highlighted the operational disruptions caused by the Tribunal Reforms Act. These legal bodies argued that the four-year term limits and 50-year minimum entry age for tribunal members were unsustainable, leading to a potential crisis in case adjudication. The Centre tells SC fresh tribunal will aim to rectify these issues by extending terms and adjusting age criteria. Earlier in the year, the government had warned that 21 tribunal members were set to retire, prompting calls for interim measures to ensure continuity in judicial functions.

According to the legal petitions, the Centre tells SC fresh tribunal must also address the structural inefficiencies of existing tribunals. The Supreme Court had previously directed the government to implement changes that would prevent overlapping proceedings and ensure fair representation. The recent court judgment, which struck down the 2021 Act, further reinforced the need for a revised legislative framework. Legal experts suggest that the new bill will likely incorporate feedback from the judiciary and legal practitioners to avoid repeating constitutional flaws.

Supreme Court’s Temporary Measures and Legislative Intent

In response to the challenges posed by the 2021 Act, the Supreme Court had already extended the terms of tribunal chairpersons and members until September 8, 2026, or until they reached the age cap specified in the original legislation. This interim measure allowed for continued operations while the government prepared a revised bill. The Centre tells SC fresh tribunal will now be introduced to replace these temporary adjustments with a more permanent solution. Venkataramani reaffirmed the government’s intent to present the new legislation during the Monsoon Session, stating, “We are committed to ensuring the tribunal reforms bill is passed to stabilize the system.”

The Centre tells SC fresh tribunal is expected to resolve the contradictions in the 2021 Act, which was criticized for reenacting provisions that had already been invalidated in the Madras Bar Association (MBA-V) case. The court noted