In a landmark ruling with significant institutional consequences, the Supreme Court on Wednesday, November 19, struck down key provisions of the Tribunals Reforms Act, 2021, relating to the appointment, tenure and service conditions of tribunal members.

The judgment deals a major blow to the Union government’s broader attempt to restructure, rationalise and unify various tribunals under a common framework.

The Bench, led by Chief Justice of India BR Gavai, along with Justice Vinod Chandran, held that the 2021 Act had reintroduced — with only marginal alterations — provisions previously struck down in a series of earlier judgments designed to safeguard judicial independence.

“Therefore, the provisions of the impugned Act cannot be sustained. They violate the constitutional principles o

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