New Delhi: The Rajya Sabha on Tuesday passed the Tribunals Reforms Bill, 2026, which seeks to establish a National Tribunals Commission to oversee the selection of chairpersons and members of various tribunals across the country.
The Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha a day earlier, on August 10.
Earlier during the post-lunch sitting, Opposition INDIA bloc parties staged a walkout after Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge was not allowed to speak by the Chair during the debate on the legislation.
Replying to the debate, Union Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said tribunals play a complementary role in ensuring speedy justice. He said the rationalisation of tribunals began in 2016 under the present government and was followed by the Tribunals Reforms Act, 2021.
The new Bill replaces the 2021 law and provides for an independent National Tribunals Commission comprising a chairperson, who must be a former Supreme Court judge or former Chief Justice of a High Court, along with two judicial members and two technical members.
The Commission will be responsible for appointments, reviewing the performance of tribunal members, examining complaints and maintaining a National Tribunals Data Grid.
Meghwal linked the reforms to the broader vision of a Viksit Bharat, highlighting parallel changes in technology, taxation and the economy.
He clarified that the Bill does not change the jurisdiction of any tribunal and said it aims to ensure transparency, independence and uniformity in appointments and service conditions.
Speaking against the legislation, AAP member Sanjay Singh raised concerns over the representation of Dalit and Adivasi communities in High Courts and questioned whether reservation would be provided to these communities in the proposed tribunals.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju agreed with Singh that only one member of the SC/ST community had reached the Supreme Court as a judge, but said tribal communities had been given more opportunities under the BJP-led Union government. He said he himself belonged to the tribal community and had held the position of a Union minister.
Meanwhile, Singh also alleged corruption in the National Company Law Tribunals, claiming that large corporates were being granted waivers. He warned that the proposed reforms could lead to increased government control over the tribunals.
Supporting the legislation, BJP MP Swati Maliwal said the Bill addresses the long wait faced by common citizens for justice and is essential to restoring public trust.
AIADMK member IS Inabdurai also spoke in favour of the Bill, while raising the Cauvery issue and urging the Centre to intervene.
With the passage of the Bill by both Houses, Parliament has cleared the framework for a centralised and more independent system for tribunal appointments.
With IANS inputs