CII Calls for Centralised Oversight Mechanism for Tribunals to Boost Efficiency

New Delhi, May 26 (KNN) The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has urged the government to establish a centralised oversight body for tribunals, highlighting the need for uniformity, policy coherence, and improved performance across these important adjudicatory institutions.

The CII called for amendments to the Tribunals Reforms Act, 2021, to provide a strong legal foundation for such a mechanism.

Currently, more than 16 central tribunals operate under different ministries, dealing with critical issues in taxation, environment, labour, and corporate law.

However, these tribunals face challenges due to fragmented administrative controls, resulting in inconsistencies and lack of standardisation.

The CII pointed out that tribunals suffer from the absence of real-time performance data, which restricts evidence-based reforms.

In contrast, the entire court system’s data is available on the National Judicial Data Grid, maintained by the Supreme Court’s e-Committee.

A central oversight institution could address these gaps by monitoring performance, tracking data, coordinating appointments, building capacity, and handling grievances independently.

The CII emphasised that this body should have clear legal backing defining its structure and mandate.

Highlighting the need for reform, the CII cited the huge backlog of ₹6.7 trillion in tax disputes pending before the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), which affects fiscal resources and business ease.

Despite the Tribunal Reforms Act, issues like vacancies, delayed appointments, and poor infrastructure persist.

The call for central oversight aligns with past Supreme Court rulings, including the 1997 L. Chandra Kumar case and the 2020 Madras Bar Association judgment, which recommended the creation of a National Tribunals Commission.

CII concluded that a centralised oversight body would be a transformational step toward a more efficient, transparent, and investor-friendly justice system in India.

(KNN Bureau)