Take interim steps to tribunal postings:SC

Take interim steps to tribunal postings:SC

Context:

• The Supreme Court directed attorney General K.K. Venugopal and amicus curiae Arvind Datar to discuss an agreement for the committee appointing judicial members to key tribunals.

What is in news?

• Questions have been raised whether the Central Tribunal, Appellate and other Authorities (Qualifications, Experience and other conditions of Service of Members) Rules of 2017 is a violation to the independence of the tribunals.
• This came in the light of the major petition by Congress MP Jairam Ramesh, challenging the provisions of the 2017 Rules and the Finance Act, 2017.
• He introduced the modifications in key tribunal appointments.

Suggestions provided:

• Firstly, the committee appointing the judicial members to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and other tribunals should comprise only two members from the Centre instead of the present three, and two with judicial background.
• Secondly, the tenure of the chairperson of the tribunals should be extended to five years instead of the present three.