India: Govt to scrap 8 appellate tribunals

The government dissolved eight appellate tribunals immediately while also making enabling provisions in 17 legislation to bring amendments through notifications. The eight tribunals were dissolved through the Finance Bill, 2017.

Among those to go were the Competition Appellate Tribunal, whose functions would be taken by the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal. Similarly, Airports Economic Regulatory Authority Appellate Tribunal and Cyber Appellate Tribunal would be replaced and their functions would be taken over by the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal.

The government has moved amendments to the Finance Bill in order to facilitate the changes. Further, the Copyright Board would be dissolved, too, and its functions would be taken over by the Intellectual Property Appellate Board. The National Highways Tribunal would be replaced and its functions would be taken over by the Airport Appellate Tribunal. In the case of Employees Provident Fund Appellate Tribunal, its function would be taken over by the Industrial Tribunal.