The Supreme Court of India struck down key provisions of the Tribunal Reforms Act, 2021.
The Act gave the Union Government excessive control over tribunal appointments, functioning, and salaries.
The Court said the law undermined independence, impartiality, and effective adjudication, which are constitutional requirements.
The Bench directed the Centre to establish a National Tribunal Commission within four months to ensure independence, transparency, and uniformity in tribunals.
The 2021 Act was deemed a “repackaged version” of a struck-down 2021 ordinance, ignoring defects pointed out by the Court.
The court also stated that Parliament cannot override Supreme Court judgments by merely repackaging invalid provisions.
The 2021 Act had also abolished nine specialised tribunals, transferring their functions to High Courts and commercial courts, increasing their workload.