In Brief
The Supreme Court examined the structure and functioning of India's Tribunal system in light of constitutional principles of independence of judiciary and separation of powers. The Court held that Tribunals, as substitutes for courts, must be staffed by regular cadres of legally qualified personnel appointed through national competitions, not short-term retired appointees. An autonomous oversight body should manage recruitment and discipline. Direct appeals to the Supreme Court should be replaced with appeals through High Courts to improve access to justice. Tribunal benches must be geographically accessible at multiple locations rather than concentrated in one city. The Court remanded the matter, directing establishment of a time-bound committee to implement these reforms while preserving the core objective of speedy and inexpensive justice delivery.
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