Supreme Court Examines Constitutionality of Tribunals Reforms Act Amid Tenure Dispute

The Supreme Court is examining the constitutional validity of provisions of the Tribunals Reforms Act, 2021 while hearing a batch of petitions filed by the Madras Bar Association and others.

The petitioners argued that several provisions undermine the independence and functioning of tribunals, contrary to earlier judicial precedents safeguarding their autonomy.

The primary contention is the four-year tenure of tribunal members, which they say is too short to build expertise or contribute meaningfully to jurisprudence.

They also termed it “counterproductive,” arguing it discourages experienced legal professionals from leaving private practice for brief public roles.