Tribunal Reforms Ordinance, 2021

The Indian President recently implemented The Tribunals Reforms Ordinance, 2021. It dissolved the appellate officers under 9 Acts and transferred their functions to the High Courts.

An Amendment

The ordinance dissolved the Appellate Tribunals under 9 Acts:

• Cinematograph Act, 1952
  
  
• Copyright Act, 1957
  
  
• Trade Marks Act, 1999
  
  
• Customs Act, 1962
  
  
• The Airports Authority of India Act, 1994
  
  
• The Geographical Indication of Goods Act, 1999
  
  
• National Highway Control Act, 2002
  
  
• Rights of Farmers and Protection of Plant Varieties Act, 2001
  
  
• Patents Act, 1970

The ordinance states that the President and members of the Tribunal will be appointed based on recommendations made by a search-and-selection committee by the central government. The committee shall consist of the Chief Justice of India, the Secretary nominated by the Central Governments, the Secretary of the Ministry under which the Tribunal is constituted and the outgoing Chairperson or retired Chief Justice or retired Supreme Court Judge.

Section 184 of the Finance Act, 2017

Apart from these 9 Acts, the Tribunal Reforms Ordinance, 2021 also amended section 184 of the Finance Act, 2017. It has added the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission under the purview of the Finance Act, 2017. It has removed the following bodies from the ambit of the Finance Act, 2017:

The Airport Appellate Tribunal was established under the Airports Authority of India Act, 1994.

• The Film Certification Appellate Authority was established under the Cinematograph Act, 1952.
  
  
• Constitution of the Authority of Advanced Ruling under the Income Tax Act, 1961.
  
  
• Establishment of an Appellate Board under the Board of Trade Act, 1999.

Article 123

Article 123 of the Indian constitution empowers the President to promulgate ordinances. The ordinance prescribed under this Act has the same effect as an Act.

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