Rajya Sabha clears Tribunals Reforms Bill, 2026 for uniform appointment rules

The Rajya Sabha on Tuesday passed the Tribunals Reforms Bill, 2026, a day after the legislation was cleared by the Lok Sabha amid protests and sloganeering by Opposition members.

The Bill seeks to establish a National Tribunals Commission and introduce a uniform framework governing the appointment, qualifications and service conditions of chairpersons and members of various tribunals.

Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal had introduced the legislation in the Lok Sabha on Monday. The lower House passed it without a debate as Opposition members protested against the alleged police crackdown on students during a July 20 demonstration over the NEET paper leak.

What the Tribunals Reforms Bill proposes

The proposed legislation aims to improve the efficiency of tribunals while promoting independence, transparency and uniformity in the qualifications and appointment of their chairpersons and members.

A key provision is the creation of a National Tribunals Commission, which will be headquartered in New Delhi. The commission will comprise a chairperson, two judicial members and two technical members.

A retired Supreme Court judge or a retired chief justice of a high court will be eligible to head the proposed commission.

The commission will oversee the selection and appointment of chairpersons and members of various tribunals and provide an institutional framework for their functioning.

Why the government brought the Bill

The legislation follows a Supreme Court ruling that struck down certain provisions of the Tribunals Reforms Act, 2021. The court had held that those provisions were contrary to the principles of separation of powers and judicial independence and inconsistent with earlier judicial rulings on the appointment, tenure and functioning of tribunal members.

The Supreme Court had also called for an independent National Tribunals Commission with professional expertise, a transparent selection process and an oversight mechanism for appointing tribunal chairpersons and members.

Once enacted, the proposed legislation will repeal the Tribunals Reforms Act, 2021.

Appointment and service conditions

The Bill lays down provisions covering the qualifications, selection and appointment of chairpersons and members of tribunals covered under the legislation.

It also sets out provisions relating to their salaries and allowances, resignation, removal and other conditions of service.

The government has proposed the framework to bring greater uniformity to tribunal appointments while strengthening transparency and institutional independence.