Tribunals Reforms Bill, 2021:
The Lok Sabha passed the Tribunals Reforms Bill, 2021. The Bill replaces a similar Ordinance promulgated in April 2021.
The Bill provides for:
- Uniform terms and conditions of service for Chairperson and Members of various tribunals, including the following, namely:
- Search-cum-Selection Committee for tribunals other than State Administrative Tribunals to be headed by the Chief Justice of India or a Judge nominated by him;
- Search-cum-Selection Committee for the State Administrative Tribunal to be headed by the Chief Justice of the High Court of the concerned State;
- age of retirement to be seventy years for Chairperson and sixty-seven years for a Member;
- the Chairperson and Member of a Tribunal shall be eligible for reappointment.
- Abolition of tribunals or authorities under various Acts by amending
- the Cinematograph Act, 1952,
- the Copyrights, Act, 1957,
- the Customs Act, 1962,
- the Patents Act, 1970,
- the Airport Authority of India Act, 1994,
- the Trade Marks Act, 1999,
- the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999,
- the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Act, 2001,
- the Control of National Highways (Land and Traffic) Act, 2002;
- Transfer of all cases pending before such tribunals or authorities to the Commercial Court or the High Court, as the case may be, on the appointed date.
