Supreme Court Questions Centre on Reintroduction of Struck-Down Tribunal Provisions

The Supreme Court questioned the Central Government over the Tribunals Reforms Act, 2021 for reintroducing provisions previously struck down, including reduced tenure and altered eligibility criteria for Tribunal members.

The Bench examined whether Parliament can revive invalidated provisions through minor linguistic changes. The Attorney General argued that the amendments were based on practical experience and intended to bring uniformity, not to defy judicial pronouncements.

However, the Madras Bar Association contended that the Act undermines the Court’s directions safeguarding the independence of Tribunals. The matter remains pending before the Court.