Parliament clears Bill to end 9 appellate tribunals

New Delhi, August 9

A Bill seeking to abolish as many as nine appellate tribunals, including the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (FCAT), was approved by Parliament with the Rajya Sabha passing the proposed legislation Monday.

The House rejected Opposition members’ demand to send the legislation to a select committee. The Tribunals Reforms Bill, 2021, was approved by the Lok Sabha on August 3.

Soon after the passage of the Bill, Opposition members trooped into the Well of the House in protest against Pegasus and three farm laws.

Replying to a discussion on the Bill in the Upper House, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman rejected the Opposition’s charge that the legislation undermines the judicial system, and asserted the government “fully respects” the independence of judiciary.

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. — TNS