SC Urges Centre to Extend Tribunal Tenures Amid Vacancy Concerns
Supreme Court asks Centre to consider extending retiring tribunal members' tenures by a month; NGT members get interim relief.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Centre to consider extending the tenure of retiring tribunal chairpersons and members by a month or so, aiming to prevent quasi-judicial bodies from becoming defunct due to vacancies.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant said the government should ensure that appointments are made without delay. The court observed that fresh vacancies could trigger another round of litigation if tribunals are left without adequate members.
The Centre informed the court that the appointment process has already begun under the Tribunal Reforms Act, 2026, and opposed requests for ad hoc extensions. However, the bench said it did not want the functioning of tribunals to be disrupted and asked the government to consider continuing the existing arrangement temporarily.
The court also noted that three members of the National Green Tribunal — two judicial and one technical — were due to retire. As an interim measure, it extended their tenure until fresh appointments are made.