Rajya Sabha passes Tribunals Reforms Bill, 2026 to set up National Tribunal Commission

The Rajya Sabha passed the Tribunals Reforms Bill, 2026, paving the way for a National Tribunal Commission to oversee appointments to tribunals. Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said the move would make appointments transparent, independent and merit-based without changing tribunal jurisdiction.

New Delhi: The Rajya Sabha on Tuesday passed a Bill to set up a National Tribunal Commission to select chairpersons and members for various tribunals across the country.

The Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha on Monday. Earlier, Opposition INDIA bloc parties staged a walkout from the Upper House in the post-lunch sitting after Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge was not allowed to speak by the Chair, as the Upper House debated the Tribunals Reforms Bill, 2026.

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Replying to the debate on the Bill, Minister for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal said tribunals play a complementary role to ensure speedy justice.

Under the Narendra Modi government, rationalisation of Tribunals started in 2016. The government later brought the Tribunal Reforms Act in 2021.

“Setting up of the National Tribunal Commission is the core of this Bill. It will have two judicial members and two technical members and will be headed by a former Supreme Court judge or a former chief justice of a High Court. The NTC will make appointments in the commission to make it transparent, independent and merit-based,” said the minister.

He stressed that the Bill brings no changes in the jurisdiction of tribunals. This Bill will ensure ease of justice and ease of doing business and is an important milestone in adopting global best practices that will strengthen legal and institutional architecture and will ensure proper justice, Meghwal said.