Why is it in the news?
The Supreme Court criticised tribunals as a “liability” due to structural and functional deficiencies.
Called for establishment of National Tribunals Commission (NTC).
Category: Polity
Important Points:
● Tribunals derive constitutional basis from 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976
● Articles 323A and 323B inserted under Part XIV-A
● Article 323A: Administrative Tribunals for service matters
● Article 323B: Tribunals for taxation, land reforms, elections etc.
● Issues: executive control over appointments and tenure
● Nearly 38,000 cases pending in Armed Forces Tribunals
● Commercial tribunals face 3.56 lakh case backlog worth ₹24.7 lakh crore
● SC in L. Chandra Kumar (1997) upheld judicial review under Articles 226/227 & 32
● Madras Bar Association (2025) struck down fixed 4-year tenure
● SC recommended independent National Tribunals Commission