⇒ Recently, Parliament passed the Tribunals Reforms Bill, 2021. The Tribunals Reforms Bill, 2021 has replaced the Tribunals Reforms (Rationalisation and Conditions of Service) Ordinance, 2021.
The bill seeks to abolish nine appellate tribunals, including the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (FCAT).
The bill seeks to amend the Cinematograph Act, 1952, the Customs Act, 1962, the Airports Authority of India Act, 1994, the Trade Marks Act, 1999 and the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Act, 2001 and certain other legislations.
The tribunals which the bill seeks to abolish, include, the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999; the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Act, 2001; and the Control of National Highways (Land and Traffic) Act, 2002.
About Bill:
» The Tribunals Reforms (Rationalisation and Conditions of Service) Bill, 2021 provides for a mechanism to file an appeal directly to the Commercial Court or the High Courts, as the case may be.
» The Bill also proposes to set up a search-cum-selection committee that will select and appoint the Chairperson and the Members of the various tribunals.
» The Bill also limits the tenure of the Chairperson of a tribunal to four years or till he/ she attains the age of seventy years, whichever is earlier. The members of the tribunal will have a term of four years or till he or she attains the age of sixty-seven years, whichever is earlier.