2.8. National Tribunal Commission (NTC)

The 74th report of the Parliamentary standing committee, endorsing the view of the Law Commission, recommended the creation of a National Tribunal Commission (NTC) to regulate issues linked with tribunals such as:

♤ oversee selection process,

♤ set eligibility criteria for appointment

♤ introduction of common eligibility criteria for removal of Chairman and Members

♤ meeting the requirement of infrastructural and financial resources. As such the NTC can help in:

♤ Maintaining independence from the executive since such a body would be established through a law of Parliament.

♤ Remedy the issue of non-uniformity in administration of tribunals as well as service conditions of tribunal members as a single body will be regulating all tribunals.

♤ Regularising the system of appointment to tribunals by establishing an Indian Tribunals Service and carrying out an All India Entrance Examination for Tribunals (AIEET).

However, to make NTC successful, one needs to be cautious about issues such as adhering to the standards set by judiciary regarding its composition to maintain its independence, impartial non-partisan appointment to the NTC board, doing away with the system of re-appointment of the tribunal members, ensuring enough political will to reform tribunal system etc.