SC strikes down 2021 Tribunal Reforms Act, cites violation of judicial independence

The Supreme Court on Wednesday struck down the 2021 Tribunal Reforms Act, which pertains to the appointments, tenure and service conditions of tribunal members, ruling that it violated judicial independence, Live Law reported.

A bench of Chief Justice BR Gavai and Justice Vinod Chandran noted that provisions that had been struck down by the court in its earlier judgements were reintroduced in the Act by the Union government with minor tweaks, Bar and Bench reported.

The bench held that the Act cannot be sustained as it violated constitutional principles related to the separation of powers and judicial independence, Live Law reported.

“The impugned Act directly contradicts binding judicial pronouncements that have repeatedly clarified the standards governing the appointment, te