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Tribunals in India: Role, Types, List of Tribunals in India

Tribunals in India function as quasi-judicial bodies. Learn about tribunals in India, their role, types, and list of tribunals for UPSC preparation.

Deeksha Dixit26 Nov, 2024

Tribunals in India play a significant role by providing specialized forums to resolve disputes quickly and efficiently. They ease the burden of the Indian judiciary by providing specialised resolutions.

These quasi-judicial bodies are a crucial part of India's administrative machinery, ensuring justice in various sectors like taxation, labor, and service matters. Keep reading about what tribunals are, their types, and the list of tribunals in India!

What Are Tribunals?

A tribunal is a specialized body or authority created by law to adjudicate disputes or provide a resolution in a particular area. Unlike traditional courts, tribunals are designed to focus on specific matters such as labor issues, service disputes, taxation, and administrative concerns. They often function outside the regular court system but have judicial powers. Tribunals aim to deliver justice more efficiently and reduce the burden on regular courts. Some of the key features of tribunals include:

They are not a part of the traditional court hierarchy.
They comprise judicial members and experts from relevant fields.
Their decisions can be appealed in higher courts.

For instance, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) handles environmental disputes, ensuring effective compliance with environmental laws.

Tribunal System in India

Tribunals are quasi-judicial bodies created to address specific disputes that may not require regular court proceedings. In India, the tribunals are largely governed by Articles 323A and 323B of the Indian Constitution, which empower the government to create tribunals as alternative dispute resolution mechanisms for various areas.

Article 323A: Covers administrative tribunals that resolve disputes related to public services.
Article 323B : Enables the creation of tribunals for other matters like taxation, foreign exchange, and industrial disputes.

The Structure of the Tribunal System in India is as follows:

Types of Tribunals in India

India’s tribunal system can be classified into two broad categories: Administrative Tribunals and Other Tribunals.

Administrative Tribunals: These address disputes related to the functioning of public services under Article 323A. For example, the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) resolves cases concerning central government civil service employees.
Other Tribunals: These are created by an act for specific purposes under Article 323B. Key examples include the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal, and the National Green Tribunal (NGT).

List of Tribunals in India

Various tribunals have been created under Article 323A and 323B of Indian constitution. Here is a list of some of the most important tribunals in India:

List of Tribunals in India
Name of Tribunal	Establishing Act	Key Details
Central Administrative Tribunal	The Administrative Tribunal Act, 1985	Deals with recruitment and service matters of public servants. Its Chairman and members are appointed by the President after consulting the Chief Justice of India.
State Administrative Tribunals (SATs)	By the Central government at the request of state governments under the Administrative Tribunals Act of 1985.	Handles recruitment and service matters of state government employees Chairman and members appointed by the President after consulting the concerned state's Governor.
Joint Administrative Tribunal (JAT)	Administrative Tribunals Act of 1985	Functions for two or more states, exercising the powers of administrative tribunals for those states.
National Green Tribunal	The National Green Tribunal Act, 2010	Resolves cases related to environmental protection. Principal Bench in New Delhi, with additional benches in Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata, and Chennai.
Central Government Industrial Tribunal	The Industrial Disputes Act, 1947	There are 22 Industrial Tribunals cum Labour Courts to resolve industrial disputes in the industrial sector.
Income-Tax Appellate Tribunal	The Income-tax Act, 1961	Resolves disputes related to income tax laws and assessments.
Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal	The Customs Act, 1962	It resolves disputes related to customs, excise, and service tax matters and has 16 Judicial Members and 16 Technical Members.
Securities Appellate Tribunal	The Securities Exchange Board of India Act, 1992	It hears appeals against orders passed by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal	The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997	Resolves disputes in the telecommunications sector, protecting the interests of service providers and consumers.
National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCALT)	The Companies Act, 2013	Constituted in 2016, Adjudicates issues related to Indian companies, including insolvency and corporate governance matters.
Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT)	The Armed Forces Tribunal Act, 2007	Deals with disputes related to the Armed Forces, including recruitment, promotions, and conditions of service.
Foreigners Tribunals (FTs)	Foreigners' Act of 1946	Established in 1964, these tribunals are unique to Assam for addressing illegal foreigner issues.
Water Disputes Tribunal (WDT)	Inter-State River Water Disputes (ISRWD) Act, 1956	These are established to resolve disputes regarding the waters of inter-State rivers and valleys.

Role of Tribunals in India

Tribunals are an integral part of the Indian legal framework. They uphold the principles of justice and fairness while catering to the specific needs of modern governance. Some key roles of Tribunals are:

Reduces Burden on Judiciary: Tribunals handle specialised cases, helping regular courts focus on critical issues.
Speedy Justice: Tribunals are designed to deliver quick resolutions, reducing delays in traditional courts.
Expertise-Based Decisions: Members have technical knowledge, leading to more accurate judgments.
- For example, the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal with expertise in tax laws.
Accessible Legal System: Tribunals simplify the legal process, making it more accessible for citizens.
Ensuring Accountability: Some tribunals, like the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), play an important role in ensuring accountability in public administration.

In conclusion, tribunals in India promote efficiency, specialisation, and accessibility making them an essential part of the country’s justice system.

UPSC PYQs on Tribunals

UPSC Prelims 2012: The National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 was enacted in consonance with which of the following provisions of the Constitution of India? (2012)

Right to healthy environment, construed as a part of Right to life under Article 21
Provision of grants for raising the level of administration in the Scheduled Areas for the welfare of Scheduled Tribes under Article 275(1)
Powers and functions of Gram Sabha as mentioned under Article 243(A)

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 UPSC Mains 2018: How far do you agree with the view that tribunals curtail the jurisdiction of ordinary courts? In view of the above, discuss the constitutional validity and competency of the tribunals in India? (250 words, 15 marks)

Ready to explore more about Indian governance and policies? Enroll in PW UPSC Courses today!

UPSC Related Articles
Chief Justice of India	Mission Karmayogi	Judicial Activism
Regulatory Bodies in India	Cooperative Federalism	Anti-Defection Law

Tribunals in India FAQs

What are tribunals in India?

Tribunals are quasi-judicial bodies resolving disputes in specific areas like taxation, labour, and the environment.

Why tribunals are formed?

Tribunals are formed to reduce the judiciary’s burden and provide speedy resolutions for specialised disputes.

How many tribunals are there in India?

India has many tribunals, including the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), and National Green Tribunal (NGT), among others.

What is the difference between Article 323A and 323B?

Article 323A focuses on administrative tribunals, while Article 323B allows for tribunals in taxation, labour, and other fields.

Which tribunal handles environmental disputes in India?

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) handles environmental disputes, ensuring effective environmental protection.

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What Are Tribunals?

They are not a part of the traditional court hierarchy.
They comprise judicial members and experts from relevant fields.
Their decisions can be appealed in higher courts.

For instance, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) handles environmental disputes, ensuring effective compliance with environmental laws.

Tribunal System in India

Article 323A: Covers administrative tribunals that resolve disputes related to public services.
Article 323B : Enables the creation of tribunals for other matters like taxation, foreign exchange, and industrial disputes.

The Structure of the Tribunal System in India is as follows:

Types of Tribunals in India

India’s tribunal system can be classified into two broad categories: Administrative Tribunals and Other Tribunals.

Administrative Tribunals: These address disputes related to the functioning of public services under Article 323A. For example, the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) resolves cases concerning central government civil service employees.
Other Tribunals: These are created by an act for specific purposes under Article 323B. Key examples include the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal, and the National Green Tribunal (NGT).

List of Tribunals in India

Various tribunals have been created under Article 323A and 323B of Indian constitution. Here is a list of some of the most important tribunals in India:

List of Tribunals in India
Name of Tribunal	Establishing Act	Key Details
Central Administrative Tribunal	The Administrative Tribunal Act, 1985	Deals with recruitment and service matters of public servants. Its Chairman and members are appointed by the President after consulting the Chief Justice of India.
State Administrative Tribunals (SATs)	By the Central government at the request of state governments under the Administrative Tribunals Act of 1985.	Handles recruitment and service matters of state government employees Chairman and members appointed by the President after consulting the concerned state's Governor.
Joint Administrative Tribunal (JAT)	Administrative Tribunals Act of 1985	Functions for two or more states, exercising the powers of administrative tribunals for those states.
National Green Tribunal	The National Green Tribunal Act, 2010	Resolves cases related to environmental protection. Principal Bench in New Delhi, with additional benches in Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata, and Chennai.
Central Government Industrial Tribunal	The Industrial Disputes Act, 1947	There are 22 Industrial Tribunals cum Labour Courts to resolve industrial disputes in the industrial sector.
Income-Tax Appellate Tribunal	The Income-tax Act, 1961	Resolves disputes related to income tax laws and assessments.
Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal	The Customs Act, 1962	It resolves disputes related to customs, excise, and service tax matters and has 16 Judicial Members and 16 Technical Members.
Securities Appellate Tribunal	The Securities Exchange Board of India Act, 1992	It hears appeals against orders passed by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal	The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997	Resolves disputes in the telecommunications sector, protecting the interests of service providers and consumers.
National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCALT)	The Companies Act, 2013	Constituted in 2016, Adjudicates issues related to Indian companies, including insolvency and corporate governance matters.
Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT)	The Armed Forces Tribunal Act, 2007	Deals with disputes related to the Armed Forces, including recruitment, promotions, and conditions of service.
Foreigners Tribunals (FTs)	Foreigners' Act of 1946	Established in 1964, these tribunals are unique to Assam for addressing illegal foreigner issues.
Water Disputes Tribunal (WDT)	Inter-State River Water Disputes (ISRWD) Act, 1956	These are established to resolve disputes regarding the waters of inter-State rivers and valleys.

Role of Tribunals in India

Reduces Burden on Judiciary: Tribunals handle specialised cases, helping regular courts focus on critical issues.
Speedy Justice: Tribunals are designed to deliver quick resolutions, reducing delays in traditional courts.
Expertise-Based Decisions: Members have technical knowledge, leading to more accurate judgments.
- For example, the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal with expertise in tax laws.
Accessible Legal System: Tribunals simplify the legal process, making it more accessible for citizens.
Ensuring Accountability: Some tribunals, like the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), play an important role in ensuring accountability in public administration.

In conclusion, tribunals in India promote efficiency, specialisation, and accessibility making them an essential part of the country’s justice system.

UPSC PYQs on Tribunals

UPSC Prelims 2012: The National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 was enacted in consonance with which of the following provisions of the Constitution of India? (2012)

Right to healthy environment, construed as a part of Right to life under Article 21
Provision of grants for raising the level of administration in the Scheduled Areas for the welfare of Scheduled Tribes under Article 275(1)
Powers and functions of Gram Sabha as mentioned under Article 243(A)

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only

Ready to explore more about Indian governance and policies? Enroll in PW UPSC Courses today!

UPSC Related Articles
Chief Justice of India	Mission Karmayogi	Judicial Activism
Regulatory Bodies in India	Cooperative Federalism	Anti-Defection Law

Tribunals in India: Role, Types, List of Tribunals in India

What Are Tribunals?

Tribunal System in India

Types of Tribunals in India

List of Tribunals in India

Enroll Now for UPSC Online Course

Role of Tribunals in India

UPSC PYQs on Tribunals

Tribunals in India FAQs

What are tribunals in India?

Why tribunals are formed?

How many tribunals are there in India?

What is the difference between Article 323A and 323B?

Which tribunal handles environmental disputes in India?

Tribunals in India FAQs

What are tribunals in India?

Why tribunals are formed?

How many tribunals are there in India?

What is the difference between Article 323A and 323B?

Which tribunal handles environmental disputes in India?

Tribunals in India: Role, Types, List of Tribunals in India

What Are Tribunals?

Tribunal System in India

Types of Tribunals in India

List of Tribunals in India

Enroll Now for UPSC Online Course

Role of Tribunals in India

UPSC PYQs on Tribunals