DAKSH report on ‘State of Tribunals 2025’ flags pendency, vacancies & structural gaps in the system, says many tribunals have become 'parking spots' or retirement houses for govt officers.
SC devises mechanism for tribunal appointments after being informed that Appointments Committee of Cabinet cleared only 22 of 41 names approved in 2019 by panel led by SC judge.
Madras HC, in 1 April order, directed central govt to re-frame a provision in Prohibition of Benami Property Transactions Act, 1988, keeping 2010 SC judgment in mind.
Bench headed by CJI Ramana tells Solicitor General that govt has no respect for SC judgments, criticises enactment of Tribunals Reforms Bill, which goes against 2 earlier orders.
Bench led by CJI Ramana notes that provisions of Tribunals Reform Bill 2021 were similar to ordinance declared unconstitutional by SC, directs Centre to make tribunal appointments in 10 days.
The bill sets minimum age limit for appointments as 50 years & provides 4-year term for members — provisions that were earlier struck down by SC when proposed in an ordinance.
No new judicial appointments have been made to tribunals since 2017 when the government first framed rules for a uniform appointment procedure to these quasi-judicial bodies.
At a discussion on civil-military relations, ex-Navy chief Arun Prakash & Lt Gen (Retd) DS Hooda flag structural gaps in defence planning, procurement & coordination.
An oil shock, monsoon fears, rampant unemployment, and the seeming inevitability of inflation are common to both eras. Indira Gandhi’s self-destructive responses are instructive today.
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