Rajya Sabha Passes Tribunals Reforms Bill, 2026

The Rajya Sabha passed the Tribunals Reforms Bill, 2026 by voice vote on 11 August, 2026, a day after it cleared the Lok Sabha on August 10, 2026. The Bill aims to make India's tribunal system more efficient, independent, and transparent by setting up a National Tribunals Commission (NTC) and introducing a common framework for appointments and service conditions across various tribunals.2026,

Background of Tribunals Reforms Bill, 2026

This legislation is the latest step in a longer effort to reform India's tribunal system. Earlier changes under the Finance Act, 2017 had already led to several tribunals being merged or abolished, while the Tribunals Reforms Act, 2021 tried to bring in a standard framework governing how tribunal Chairpersons and Members were appointed and how long they served. 

However, in Madras Bar Association (6) v. Union of India (2026), the Supreme Court struck down certain provisions of the 2021 Act, ruling that they went against judicial independence and the separation of powers. 

The Court also directed the government to set up an independent National Tribunals Commission with proper professional expertise and transparent oversight. The 2026 Bill is essentially the government's response to that direction, and it repeals the 2021 Act while protecting appointments and proceedings already made under it.

Key Highlights of Tribunals Reforms Bill 2026

1. Establishes a National Tribunals Commission (NTC) to oversee appointments, administration and functioning of tribunals, headquartered in New Delhi
2. The Commission will have a Chairperson and four Members — two Judicial Members and two Technical Members
3. Chairperson must be a former Supreme Court Judge or High Court Chief Justice; the Chief Justice of India must be consulted before appointing the Chairperson or Judicial Members
4. Technical Members need at least 25 years of experience in public administration, finance, law, accountancy, banking, management or technology
5. The Commission conducts selections through Search-cum-Selection Committees, reviews tribunal performance, oversees inquiries against members, and maintains a National Tribunals Data Grid as a central case-data repository
6. All tribunal appointments will be made by the Central Government on the Committee's recommendation, with each Committee including a retired Chief Justice/Judge, a Government Secretary, a Technical Member, and two domain experts
7. Appointments must be finalised within three months of receiving recommendations; the Secretariat must forward recommendations within 3 days
8. A structured inquiry and removal process applies to tribunal Chairpersons/Members for misconduct, incompetence or abuse of position
9. Tribunal Chairpersons serve five years or until age 70, whichever is earlier; Members serve five years or until age 67, with eligibility for reappointment
10. Covers 16 tribunals including CESTAT, CAT, SAT, DRTs, DRATs, TDSAT, NGT, NCLAT, NCDRC, Industrial Tribunals and ITAT, with the government empowered to add more via notification
11. Repeals the Tribunals Reforms Act, 2021, while protecting existing appointments and proceedings
12. Estimated annual cost of ₹27.14 crore for running the Commission and its Secretariat.