Overview
- A bench of Chief Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran reserved judgment in the Madras Bar Association challenge to the Tribunals Reforms Act, 2021.
- The Court pressed the Centre on reviving provisions earlier invalidated, including a four-year tenure, a minimum appointment age of 50, and the two-name recommendation route for chairpersons.
- Attorney General R. Venkataramani defended the law as a uniform framework and argued that past judgments are not inflexible directives binding the government.
- Petitioners said the contested provisions erode judicial independence and deter younger talent, urging adherence to five-year terms and broader eligibility previously indicated by the Court.
- During hearings, the bench criticized late requests to adjourn proceedings and to refer the case to a larger bench, as the dispute plays out against persistent vacancies and delays across key tribunals.