SC Extends Tribunal Chairpersons’ Tenure Till September 8 Amid Pending Appointments

The Supreme Court on Tuesday extended the tenure of all tribunal chairpersons, presidents and members whose terms are set to expire before September 8 , in a move aimed at ensuring the continuous and uninterrupted functioning of tribunals across the country.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi passed the order while hearing a mention in a pending matter concerning tribunal appointments and service continuity.

The issue came up in the context of a judicial member of the National Green Tribunal , whose tenure was scheduled to end in June. The court, taking note of the situation, extended his term as well till September 8, aligning it with the broader extension granted to all similarly placed tribunal officials.

During the hearing, Attorney General R Venkataramani appeared for the Centre and conveyed the government’s consent to the proposed extension. The Centre’s agreement was recorded by the bench, which emphasised the need to avoid any vacancy-driven disruption in adjudicatory bodies.

The Supreme Court also observed that the selection committee responsible for tribunal appointments is scheduled to meet on September 8. It noted that extending the tenure of existing chairpersons and members until that date would ensure that tribunal functioning does not suffer due to administrative gaps or delays in the appointment process.

Tribunals in India play a crucial role in adjudicating specialised disputes related to environment, taxation, service matters and corporate regulation . The court underscored that their effective functioning depends on the availability of duly appointed members, making transitional arrangements necessary in the interest of justice and administrative efficiency .

The order is seen as an interim safeguard to maintain stability in the tribunal system until fresh appointments are made following the upcoming selection process.