Government issues rules to standardise recruitment across 16 tribunals

The government has issued rules to standardise recruitment and eligibility for tribunal posts, create a formal mechanism to inquire into misconduct complaints, and prescribe service conditions and remuneration.

Rules for 16 tribunals and appellate bodies

Issued on September 30 and published on Thursday by the Union Law Ministry, the rules will enable the newly-created National Tribunals Commission to appoint chairpersons and members to 16 tribunals and appellate bodies.

The framework is set out in the National Tribunals Commission and Qualification, Selection and Conditions of Service of Chairperson and Members of Tribunals Rules, 2026.

Under the rules, the chairperson of the commission will receive ₹2.5 lakh per month, while its members will receive ₹2.25 lakh a month.

A similar pay structure will apply to tribunal chairpersons and members, although the rules provide for specified exceptions.

The process for filling vacancies in tribunals must be initiated at least six months before the vacancies arise.

Selection process and commission structure

Search-cum-selection committees will assess candidates through expert evaluation, personal interaction and, where applicable, writing exercises.

The selection process is therefore intended to include more than a single assessment stage, with candidates evaluated through professional scrutiny and direct interaction.

The National Tribunals Commission was set up following Parliament’s passage of the Tribunals Reforms Bill in August.

The Bill was brought following a Supreme Court direction.

The commission is to be headquartered in Delhi and will consist of a chairperson and four members.

Of the four members, two will be judicial members and two will be technical members.

A retired Supreme Court judge or a retired Chief Justice of a High Court will be qualified to head the proposed panel.

Focus on independence and transparency

The key aim of the commission is to improve efficiency and ensure independence, transparency and uniformity in the qualification and appointment of chairpersons and members to various tribunals.

The rules also address service conditions, remuneration and the handling of misconduct complaints, giving the commission a formal structure for dealing with these areas.

The Supreme Court had recently struck down certain provisions of the Tribunals Reforms Act, 2021.

The court held that those provisions were contrary to the principles of separation of powers and judicial independence.

It also found that they were not in consonance with earlier judicial pronouncements that had clarified the standards governing the appointment, tenure and functioning of tribunal chairpersons and members.

The court had directed the establishment of the National Tribunals Commission as an independent body with professional expertise, a transparent process and an oversight mechanism for the selection and appointment of chairpersons and members of various tribunals.

The rules now set out the commission’s composition, eligibility requirements, selection procedures, remuneration and timelines for starting the process to fill tribunal vacancies.

Source: The Hindu