Tenure of 248 members of tribunals extended under new law: Govt to SC

The Centre on Tuesday informed the Supreme Court that 248 members of different tribunals have been found eligible for extension under the Tribunal Reforms Act, 2026 and their services are being extended. The government said that eligible tribunal members would continue in office until they completed the five-year tenure prescribed under the new law or attained the applicable maximum age limit.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana took note of the submissions that three members, two judicial and one technical, of the National Green Tribunal are demitting offices during the day and it will have adverse impact on the functioning of the green tribunal.

The bench, as an interim measure, extended the tenure of three NGT members till appointments are made to their posts.

“We have heard with respect to three members of NGT, whose term is expiring today. Even though these members may not be entitled to further extension in view of age embargo. However, the Attorney General states that the selection process for appointment of new members will be completed very soon. 

“To ensure that day-to-day functioning of NGT is not hampered, we direct that three members continue as an interim measure till fresh appointments are made in their place,” the bench said.

With regard to other tribunals, the bench asked the Centre to take up the issue of appointment in accordance with the 2026 Act without any delay. During the hearing, the Attorney General informed the bench that 248 members of different tribunals had been found eligible for extension under Section 24 of the new law.

Of these, extension orders had already been issued for 229 members, while orders in respect of the remaining 19 were being issued on Tuesday, he said.

The bench recorded that eligible members would continue in office until they completed the five-year tenure prescribed under the new regime or attained the applicable maximum age limit.

“In view of this, let a formal order granting extension subject to these two conditions be issued by the Government of India,” the bench said.

The issue had arisen against the backdrop of the earlier order of May 19, when the top court had extended until September 8 the tenure of tribunal chairpersons, presidents and members whose terms were due to expire before that date to ensure that the functioning of tribunals was not disrupted.