Parliamentary Committee Review of India's Tribunal System
The Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice, chaired by Shri Brij Lal, MP, Rajya Sabha, presented its 166th Report on 'Review of Functioning of Tribunal System in the Country' on 7th August 2026. The report resulted from extensive deliberations held with stakeholders between June 2025 and December 2025, including consultations with registrars and officials from five major tribunals: Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), Railway Claims Tribunal (RCT), Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT), National Green Tribunal (NGT), and National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT).
Critical Staffing and Infrastructure Deficiencies
The committee identified severe staffing shortages across all tribunals, with the NGT functioning below minimum statutory member strength and NCLT reporting that more than 95% of its workforce is on contractual basis, leading to loss of institutional memory. The committee recommended time-bound filling of all vacant posts of Members and supporting staff, conducting periodic manpower assessments, and creating adequate permanent posts to reduce dependence on contractual personnel. Infrastructure deficiencies were noted across tribunals, with TDSAT lacking a permanent office complex and ITAT requiring permanent headquarters in Mumbai and completion of infrastructure projects at Ahmedabad, Kolkata, and Guwahati.
Case Pendency and Disposal Challenges
The report highlighted significant pendency issues across tribunals, with ITAT experiencing a sharp increase of 19,275 pending cases within five months. RCT faces concentrated pendency in regions with dense railway networks like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Mumbai. NCLT shows non-adherence to statutory timelines under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code in a substantial number of Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process cases. The committee recommended comprehensive region-wise analysis of pendency trends, formulation of time-bound action plans for reducing pendency, and establishment of dedicated IBC Benches/verticals within NCLT to handle insolvency matters specifically.
Digital Transformation and Technological Upgrades
The committee emphasized the critical need for digital infrastructure modernization across all tribunals. ITAT reported concerns about ageing hardware, obsolescence of software systems, and increasing need for cyber-security safeguards. NGT lacks dedicated computer sections and technical posts despite handling sensitive environmental cases. The committee recommended adequate financial and technical support for periodic upgradation of hardware, software, and video-conferencing infrastructure, establishment of dedicated Computer/IT Sections at all tribunal benches, and implementation of robust disaster recovery mechanisms. Specific recommendations included e-filing systems, virtual hearings, digital record management, and AI-assisted order generation and case scheduling.
Sector-Specific Recommendations
For ITAT, the committee recommended specialized training programs focusing on emerging areas of tax jurisprudence including international taxation, transfer pricing, anti-avoidance measures, and implementation of the Income Tax Act, 2025. For RCT, the committee proposed a standardized compensation framework similar to the civil aviation sector, simplified claim procedures, and a "Zero FIR" model for universal filing. For TDSAT, the committee suggested enhancing sanctioned strength beyond the current 52 posts and examining feasibility of extending jurisdiction to specialized consumer disputes. For NGT, the committee emphasized stronger compliance monitoring mechanisms and better enforcement of tribunal orders. For NCLT, the committee recommended comprehensive review of recruitment rules to address bottlenecks in staffing.
Public Awareness and Accessibility Measures
The committee identified lack of public awareness as a significant barrier to access across tribunals. Recommendations included multilingual dissemination of information, establishment of facilitation mechanisms at all tribunal benches, sustained awareness campaigns through digital platforms and mass media, and development of user-friendly guidance materials particularly for rural and remote areas. The committee also emphasized the need for legal aid facilitation and assistance desks to support claimants without legal representation.