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In the way: on the Tribunal Reforms Bill 2026
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The Hindu - Home
Tribunals have historically been administered by the same Ministries whose decisions the tribunal might have to review.
In Rojer Mathew (2019), the Court recommended an independent, statutory National Tribunals Commission (NTC) to oversee the selection and administration of tribunals.
That is the Tribunal Reforms Bill 2026, which the Lok Sabha passed on August 10 with no discussion, and the Rajya Sabha on August 11.
To its credit, inter alia, the Bill restores the five-year terms for tribunal members, introduces uniform service conditions, includes provisions for a National Tribunals Data Grid, and does not maroon already pending appointments.
For one, Section 14 leaves the qualifications, manner of selection, salaries, allowances, and other conditions of service of tribunal members to future executive rules.