HIDAYATULLAH NATIONAL LAW

UNIVERSITY

ADMINISTRATIVE LAW PROJECT

TOPIC ADMINISTRATIVE ADJUDICATION

PROJECT SUBMITTED TO Mr. MANOJ KUMAR

PROJECT SUBMITTED BY AMIT KUMAR KAYAL

6 th
SEMESTER
ROLL NO 18
SECTION A

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DATE OF SUBMISSION 18.02.2015

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Acknowledgments................................................3
Introduction...........................................................4

Objective.................................................................5
Research Methodology.........................................5

Meaning and general conspectus of administrative

adjudication..................................6
Reasons for growth of administrative adjudication and
its need......................................8
Problems/disadvantages of administrative
adjudication.............................................................11
Advantages of administrative adjudication......15
Administrative tribunal..........................................16
Mechanism of administrative tribunal.................20

Conclusion.................................................................23

Bibliography...............................................................24

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I have made this project work, and on the way of completing it, I have learned a lot of
things for which I am thankful to Mr. Manoj Kumar, Assistant lecturer, HNLU, Raipur, and
my guide, who gave me the opportunity to do this project work and guided me all the way.
I would also like to thank my friends, and colleagues, for their opinions, suggestions and
critical analysis, which has helped me to improve this project. I also thank the HNLU
library and the people working there. Their silent work is the reason behind the completion
of this project.
I thank God, He has been very generous on me, to have kept me in good health and make
the conditions favourable for me to complete this work in time.
Lastly, I thank my parents. Without their continuous support and belief in me, I would
never have been able to make this project.

- Amit Kumar kayal

Semester-VI, B.A. LL.B. (Hons.)
Roll no-18

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INTRODUCTION

Today, over and above ministerial functions, the executive perform many quasi-legislative
and quasi-judicial functions as well. Governmental functions have increased and even though
according to the traditional theory, the function of adjudication of disputes is the exclusive
jurisdiction of the ordinary courts of law, in reality, many judicial functions have come to be
performed by the executive, e.g. imposition of fine, levy of penalty, confiscation of goods,
etc.
The traditional theory of 'laissez faire' has been given up and the old Police State has now
become a Welfare State, and because of this radical change in the philosophy as to the role
to be played by the State, its functions have increased. Today it exercises not only sovereign
functions, but, as a progressive democratic State, it also seeks to ensure social security and
social welfare for the common masses. It regulates the industrial relations, exercises control
over production, and starts many enterprises. The issues arising there from are not purely
legal issues. It is not possible for the ordinary courts of law to deal with all these socioeconomic problems.
For example, industrial disputes between the workers and the management must be settled as
early as possible. It is not only in the interest of the parties to the disputes, but of the society
at large. It is, however, not possible for an ordinary court of law to decide these disputes
expeditiously, as it has to function, restrained by certain innate limitations. All the same, it is
necessary that such disputes should not be determined in an arbitrary or autocratic manner.
Administrative tribunals are, therefore, established to decide various quasi-judicial issues in
place of ordinary courts of law.

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OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this project work are as

follows:

1. To study the meaning and general conspectus of administrative

adjudication.
2. To discuss the reasons for growth of administrative adjudication
and its need.
3. To analyse the disadvantages and advantages of administrative
adjudication.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
The research is based on secondary sources. Literature review has been done extensively in
order to make a comprehensive presentation. Books from the universitys library have been
used. Articles and reports from different websites have been used in order to get
comprehensive data on the subject Footnotes have been provided wherever needed, to
acknowledge the source.

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MEANING AND GENERAL CONSPECTUS OF

ADMINISTRATIVE ADJUDICATION

Administrative adjudication is the process by which an administrative agency issues an

affirmative, negative, injunctive, or declaratory order. The formal proceedings before an
administrative agency adopt the process of rule making or adjudication. In rule making
process, the policies are formulated by setting rules for the future conduct of persons
governed by that agency. While in adjudication process, the agency's policies are applied to
the past actions of a particular party, and it results in an order for or against that party. Both
these methods are regulated by the law of administrative procedure.
The term administrative adjudication has been used synonymously with administrative
justice. In a socialist society, bulks of cases are not decided by the ordinary courts. When a
dispute arises between an administrative agency and a private person it is settled by the
administration, this is called administrative adjudication.
Jural postulates play a vital role in administrative adjudication. This is so because
administrative adjudication is based on the assumption that when liberty is substracted,
justice has to be added. It is necessary to make the people conscious of the view that
administrative powers will be exercised according to their notion of good behavior and good
administration. When the government is given more and more powers, public opinion
becomes more and more sensitive of the abuse and misuse of such powers. The judiciary has
established certain legal standards in this respect. It has its own weaknesses, but has great
strength as well.
Administrative adjudication has come into existence as a result of the philosophy of welfare
State and consequential socialization of law. Today the State exercises not only sovereign
functions, but as a progressive democratic State, it also seeks to ensure social security and
social welfare for the common masses. It regulates industrial relations, exercises control
over production and starts many enterprises. The issues arising there from are socioeconomic issues. It is not possible for the ordinary Courts of law to deal with all the issues
of socio-economic policies. As Wade and Philips rightly observe:

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Modern government gives rise to many disputes which cannot appropriately be

solved by applying objective legal principles or standards and depends ultimately on what
is desirable in the public interest as a matter of social policy. 1 For example industrial
relations between the workers and the management must be settled as soon as possible. It
is not in the interest of the parties to the disputes but of the society at large. It is not
possible for the ordinary Courts to decide these disputes expeditiously. At the same time,
it is necessary that such disputes should not be determined in arbitrary or autocratic
manner. Administrative Tribunals are, therefore, established to decide various quasijudicial issues in place of ordinary Courts of law. Tribunals are recognized even by the
Constitution of India.

1 Constitutional Law, 1965, p. 699; See also the Reports of the Franks Committee 1957, pp. 8-9.
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REASONS FOR GROWTH OF ADMINISTRATIVE

ADJUDICATION AND ITS NEED
According to Dicey's theory of rule of law, the ordinary law of the land must be administered
by ordinary law courts. He was opposed to the establishment of administrative tribunals.
According to the classical theory and the doctrine of separation of powers, the function of
deciding disputes between the parties belonged to ordinary courts of law. But the
governmental functions have increased and ordinary courts of law are not in a position to
meet the situation and solve the complex problems arising in the changed socio-economic
context.
The complexities of intensive form of government and synthetic structure of present society
have given rise to new problems requiring new solutions. One aspect of post independence
era is that the drive against poverty, illiteracy and disease has started. The government
embarked on massive plans of dispensation of benefits, public health, education, planning,
social security, transport, agriculture, industrialization and redistribution of nation's wealth.
In these circumstances, administrative tribunals are established for the following reasons:

(i) Policy considerations

In the changed socio-economic context, while the Courts are accustomed to deal with cases
primarily according to law, the exigencies of modem government postulate that some types
of controversies be disposed of by applying not law, pure and simple, but considerations of
policy as well, that is, what is in public interest", what is expedient" or what is
reasonable". Such questions can be solved not only on basis of law and fact but also by
applying policy considerations. This cannot be accomplished by the Courts of law.
Therefore Tribunals were established to handle these complex problems.

(ii) Inadequacy of Judicial system

The traditional judicial system proved inadequate to decide and settle all disputes
requiring resolution. It is most complicated, expensive and dilatory. It was not possible to
expect speedy disposal of even very important matters e.g., disputes between employers and
employees, lock-outs and strikes etc. It was for these reasons that Industrial Tribunals and

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Labour Courts were established, which possessed the technique and expertise to deal
with such complex problems.

(iii) Merits of the System of Administrative Adjudication

The system of administrative adjudication is cheap, speedy and flexible. Judicial system is
slow, costly, complex and formalistic. According to the Franks Committe:
Tribunals have certain characteristics which often give them advantages over the Courts.
These are cheapness, accessibility, freedom from technicality, expedition and expert
knowledge of their particular subject."

(iv)

Functional approach to socio-economic problems

Administrative Tribunals can avoid technicalities. They adopt a functional rather than
a theoretical and legalistic approach. The traditional judicial system is conservative,
rigid and technical. Courts of law cannot decide cases without formality and
technicality. On the other hand Administrative Tribunals are not bound to follow strict
rules or procedure and evidence. It is, therefore, that they can take practical view of
the matter to solve complex problems.

(v)

Need for expertise

Sometimes, disputes are technical in nature. The traditional judicial system cannot be
expected to appreciate and decide them. The reason is obvious because the judge is
generalist. On the other hand, Administrative Tribunals are usually manned by experts
who can deal with and solve these problems; e.g., problems relating to atomic energy,
gas, electricity etc.

(vi)

Preventive measures

Administrative authorities can resort to preventive measures: e.g., licensing, rate

fixing etc. Unlike ordinary Courts of law, they have not to wait for the parties to come
before them with disputes. In a number of cases, these preventive actions may be
more effective and useful than punishing a person after he has violated any legal
provision.

(vii)

Policing of preventive measures

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Administrative authorities can take effective steps for policing of the aforesaid
preventive measures, e.g., suspension, revocation or cancellation of licences,
destruction of contaminated articles, etc. which are not feasible through the regular
Court of law.
(viii) Functioning of Tribunals
Robson observes, Administrative Tribunals discharge their functions more rapidly, more
cheaply, more efficiently than ordinary Courts. possess greater technical knowledge and
fewer prejudices against government.. give greater heed to the social interests involved
.decide disputes with conscious effort at furthering social policy in the legislation.2
.

2 Quoted by Kagzi: The Indian Administrative Law, 1973. p. 284: See also Fazal. Judicial Control of
administrative action in india, Pakistan and Bangladesh, 1990, p. 10.

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Problems/disadvantages of administrative
adjudication

Even though administrative adjudication is essential and useful in modem day administration,
we should not be blind to the defects from which it suffers or the dangers it poses to a
democratic polity. Some of the main drawbacks are mentioned below.
(i)

Administrative adjudication is a negation of Rule of Law. Rule of Law ensures

equality before law for everybody and the supremacy of ordinary law and due
procedure of law over governmental arbitrariness. But administrative tribunals,
with their separate laws and procedures often made by themselves, puts a serious
limitation upon the celebrated principles of Rule of Law.

(ii)

(ii) Administrative tribunals have in most cases; no set procedures and sometimes
they violate even the principles of natural justice.

(iii)

(iii) Administrative tribunals often hold summary trials and they do not follow
any precedents. As such it is not possible to predict the course of future decisions.
(iv)The civil and criminal courts have a uniform pattern of administering justice
and centuries of experience in the administration of civil and criminal laws have
borne testimony to the advantages of uniform procedure. A uniform code of
procedure in administrative adjudication is not there.

(iv)

(v) Administrative tribunals are manned by administrators and technical heads

who may not have the background of law or training of judicial work. Some of
them may not possess the independent outlook of a judge.

The Swaran Singh Committee has very commendably completed its recommendatory
exercises in the restructurization of the Constitution. Though the Committee covered a wide
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spectrum from the Preamble to Article 368 but for our limited purpose attention is focussed
on those recommendations only of the Committee which relate to administrative justice.
The Committee recommends:
1. Administrative tribunals may be set up both at the State level and at the Centre to decide
cases relating to service matters. These tribunals shall be constituted under a Central law.
2. Provision may be made for setting up an All-India Labour Appellate Tribunal to decide
appeals from Labour Courts and Industrial Courts.
3. Disputes relating to the following matters shall be decided by tribunals:
(i) Any matter concerning revenue or concerning any act ordered or done in the collection
thereof.
(ii) Any matter relating to land reforms, ceiling on urban property and procurement and
distribution of food grains and other essential commodities.
In regard to the matters specified above the writ jurisdiction of the Supreme Court under
Article 32 and of the High Court under Article 226 shall be excluded. The relevant statutes
governing these matters will also make specific provisions excluding the jurisdiction of
courts over such matters. However the right to apply for special leave of the Supreme Court
under Article 136 shall remain.
4. No writ shall lie in relation to election matters.
5. Reference to tribunals in Article 227 should be omitted.
6. The words 'and for any other purpose' may be deleted from Article 226.
Another problem of administrative adjudication is that apart from the statute there is no
obligation on administrative agencies exercising decision-making powers to give reasons for
their decisions. It is admitted on all hands that in order to avoid arbitrariness, to facilitate
review and to develop uniform principles of administrative law, 'reasons' are essential. It is
gratifying that the Supreme Court has insisted that the administrative agencies exercising
adjudicatory powers must give reasons though the question of sufficiency of reasons in a
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particular case remains still uncertain.3 If the courts of law are to be replaced by
administrative authorities and tribunals as indeed, in some kinds of cases, with the
proliferation of administrative laws, they may have to be so replaced, it is essential that
administrative authorities and tribunals should accord fair and proper hearing and give
sufficiently clear and explicit reasons in support of their orders. Then alone administrative
authorities and tribunals exercising quasi-judicial functions will be able to justify their
existence and carry credibility with the people by inspiring confidence in the administrative
adjudicatory process. It is true that all the persons manning administrative agencies
exercising adjudicatory powers are not judges, and therefore, are not expected to write
lengthy judgments. However, it may be suggested that they must be brought under some legal
obligation to include a statement of findings and conclusions as well as the reasons or basis
thereof upon all material issues of fact, law and discretion presented on record whenever any
party demands it. Administrative agencies exercising adjudicatory powers must also reinforce
their findings with 'substantial evidences'. Substantial evidences here mean such relevant
evidences as a reasonable man might accept as adequate to support the conclusion. The 'no
evidence rule' presently followed is not only illusory but also unjust.
Leaving aside tribunals, administrative agencies exercising adjudicatory powers discharge
various other administrative and governmental functions. In many cases these agencies
combine the functions of prosecutor and judge in one. In the interest of justice and for
regaining the lost faith of the people in administrative justice some sort of separation of
functions is necessary. Therefore, the institution of 'Hearing Officers' of U.S.A. or the
institution of 'Inspectors' of England is worth considering. This may also help eliminate
problems like 'departmental bias', 'plea bargaining', 'official perspective' and 'political
interference' which are eating into the very marrow of the administrative justice.
Unforeseeability and unpredictability of decisions of administrative agencies exercising
adjudicatory powers is another reason why these agencies do not carry credibility with the
people. These agencies do not publish their decisions in the form of official reports and
thereby their actions go beyond the pale of public criticism. This element of secrecy not only
creates suspicion but the agencies are deprived of the benefit which healthy public criticism
can confer. Administrative agencies also do not follow the theory of precedents, and
therefore, their decisions become unpredictable. This not only offends the common man's
3 Bhagat Raja v. Union of India, AIR 1967 SC 1606 : (1967) 3 SCR 302
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sense of justice but is also against the concept of rule of law. No doubt individualization of
justice demands freedom from precedents, yet these agencies must be very slow in overruling
their own decisions. This will help in developing some sound principles of administrative law
which are significantly lacking in India.
If substantive law is important, the procedural law cannot be in any way less significant,
because unless the media is certain and trustworthy justice cannot be up to the mark and may
result in arbitrary actions. Therefore, it may be suggested that the Central Government must
appoint a Task Force Committee to go into various problems of administrative justice with
special reference to its procedure and to draft a minimum procedure on the pattern of
Administrative Procedure Code, 1946 and the Tribunals and Enquiries Act, 1958, laying
down the minimum procedure which all the administrative agencies exercising adjudicatory
powers must follow.

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ADVATAGES OF ADMINISTRATIVE
ADJUDICATION
Administrative adjudication is a dynamic system of administration, which serves, more
adequately than any other method, the varied and complex needs of the modem society. The
main advantages of the administrative tribunals are:
1) Flexibility
Administrative adjudication has brought about flexibility and adaptability in the
judicial as well as administrative tribunals. For instance, the courts of law exhibit a
good deal of conservatism and inelasticity of outlook and approach. The justice they
administer may become out of harmony with the rapidly changing social conditions.
Administrative adjudication, not restrained by rigid rules of procedure and canons of
evidence, can remain in tune with the varying phases of social and economic life.
2) Adequate Justice
In the fast changing world of today, administrative tribunals are not only the most
appropriated means of administrative action, but also the most effective means of
giving fair justice to the individuals. Lawyers, who are more concerned about aspects
of law, find it difficult to adequately assess the needs of the modem welfare society
and to locate the individuals place in it.
3) Less Expensive

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Administrative justice ensures cheap and quick justice. As against this, procedure in the
law courts is long and cumbersome and litigation is costly. It involves payment of huge
court fees, engagement of lawyers and meeting of other incidental charges.
Administrative adjudication, in most cases, requires no stamp fees. Its procedures are
simple and can be easily understood by a layman
4) Relief to Courts
The system also gives the much-needed relief to ordinary courts of law, which are
already overburdened with ordinary suits

ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL

DEFINITION
Tribunal is an administrative body which exercises the power to adjudicate. In the
Franks Committee Report, Tribunals are not regarded as ordinary Courts But they
are not accepted even as appendages of Government Departments". The view of the
Committee is that tribunals should be regarded as machinery provided by parliament
for adjudication rather than as part of the machinery of administration. The essential
point is that all these cases, Parliament has deliberately provided for a decision outside
and independent of the Department concerned and intention of Parliament to provide
for independence of Tribunals is clear and unmistakable.' 4 According to Wade5
Tribunal are administrative only because they are part of an administrative scheme
for which a Minister is responsible to Parliament, and because the reasons for
preferring them to the ordinary Courts are administrative reasons. Even in America
the system of Administrative adjudication has been developed. In this country
administrative agencies discharge the functions of Tribunals e.g., Commissions,
Boards or Officers.6
4Report of the Committee on Administrative Tribunals and Enquries, 9 (1957).
5Wade, Administrative Law, 1988, p. 900.
6William A. Robson, Justice and Administrative Law, 1951, p. 315.
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According to the dictionary7 meaning, Tribunal' means seat or bench upon

which a judge or judges sit in a Court,' a Court of Justice'. If used in this sense, the
expression is very wide as it includes even ordinary Courts of law whereas in
administrative law this expression is limited to adjucating bodies other than the
ordinary Courts of law.

Meaning of the tribunal under the Indian

constitution
As regards the Indian context, the term Tribunal has been used under the
Constitution but has not been defined. From the functional point of view, the
position of Tribunal is somewhere between a Court and the government department
exercising adjudicatory powers. Although in strict sense Tribunals are not Courts of
law, yet they are invested with powers to adjudicate upon the issues affecting the
rights of the citizens
According to S.N. Jain8, the term Tribunal' has been used under the Indian
Constitution in three different senses
1) All administrative bodies exercising quasi/-judicial functions, whether as a part or
parcel of the department or otherwise, may be termed as Tribunals. The only
distinguishing feature of these bodies as against other bodies exercising
administrative powers that these bodies are required to follow the rules of natural
justice in rendering decisions.
2) All those administrative adjudicatory bodies may be regarded as Tribunals which
are not under the control of the department involved in the dispute and therefore
decide disputes as a Judge free from any departmental bias. The Income-Tax
Appellate Tribunal may fall in this category as it is under the control of the
Ministry of Law and not Ministry of Finance and is free to decide matters
impartially. Similarly another Tribunal free from departmental control is Railway
Rates Tribunal.
3) The term Tribunal as used in Article 136 has a special meaning in the sense that the
authority must exercise inherent judicial powers of the State. 9 Accordingly the test
7Webster's New World Dictionary, 1972, p. 1517.
8 Administrative Tribunal in India, 1977, pp. 6-7.
9 Associated Cement Companies Ud. V. P.N. Sharma, AIR 1965 SC 1595, 1606.
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to identify a Tribunal is not its control, composition or procedure but its function. As
a result of this functional test, even departmental bodies may be classified as
Tribunal, e.g., Custodian General of Evacuee Property, the Central Government
exercising powers under section 111 (3) of the Companies Act, 1956, the Central
Board of Revenue exercising appellate powers under section 190 of the Sea Customs
Act, 1878 and the Central Government exercising powers under section 191 of the
Sea Customs Act 1878.10
In Durga Shanker Mehta v. Raghuraj Singh11 the Supreme Court has defined
Tribunal in the following words : The expression Tribunal as used in Article 136
does not mean the same thing as Court but includes, within its ambit, all
adjudicating bodies, provided they are constituted by the state and are invested with
judicial as distinguished from administrative or executive functions.
The proper test to identify a Tribunal within the meaning of Article 136 or for that
purpose Article 227 is that it is an adjudicating authority outside the Court which is
vested with the judicial powers of the State. However, an authority other than a Court
may be vested by statute with judicial power in widely different circumstances,
which it would be impossible and indeed inadvisable to attempt to define
exhaustively. The test of the Tribunal is not meant to be exhaustive, and it may be
that other bodies not satisfying the test are also Tribunals.

Constitutional

Recognition

of

Administrative

Tribunals

There are provisions under the Constitution of India which recognize the existence and
importance of Tribunals. Articles 136 and 227 expressly mention the word Tribunal. As
provided under Article 136, the Supreme Court has discretionary power to grant special
leave to appeal from any judgment, decree, determination, sentence or order in any cause
or matter passed or made by any Court or Tribunal in the territory of India. Under Article
227, it is provided that every High Court has supervisory power over all Courts and
Tribunals throughout the territories in relation to which it exercises jurisdiction.

10a See S.N. Jain, Administrative Tribunals in India, 1977, pp. 6-7.
1110.' AIR. 1954 SC 520.
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The use of Administrative Tribunals as a mode of deciding disputes is on the increase

because it has all the benefits of a Court without suffering from its limitations. It is for this
advantage that Part XIV-A has been inserted in the Constitution by the Forty Second
Amendment Act, 1976 which confers power on the Parliament and the State Legislatures
to establish Tribunals to deal with specified subjects.
There are two articles in part XIV which provides for the establishment of tribunals.
Article323- A lays down that parliament may, by law, provide for the adjudication or trial
by administrative tribunals of disputes and complaints with respect to recruitment and
conditions of service of a person appointed to public services and posts in connection with
the affairs of union or of any state or of any local or other authority within the territory of
India or under the control of the government of India or of any corporation owned or
controlled by the government.
Article 323-B lays down that the appropriate legislature may, by law,
provide for the adjudication or trial by Tribunals of any disputes, complaints or
other offences with respect to all or any of the matters enumerated therein with
respect to which such legislature has power to make law.

Characteristics of Administrative Tribunal

In Bharat Bank Ltd v. Employees,12 the Supreme Court has observed that though tribunals
are clad in many of the trappings of a Court and though they exercise quasi- judicial
functions, they are not full-fledged Courts. Thus a tribunal is a adjudicating body which
decides controversies between the parties and exercises judicial powers as distinguished
from purely administrative functions and thus possesses some of the trappings of a Court,
but not all. In this case while dealing with the issue whether an Industrial Tribunal
established under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 is Tribunal or not within the meaning of
Article 136, the Supreme Court laid down that a tribunal must have the following
characteristics:
(i) The proceedings before it must commence on an application which is in the nature of
a plaint.
(ii) It has the same powers as regards discovery, inspection, taking evidence, as are
12 AIR 1950 SC 188
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possessed by a Civil Court.

(iii)

Witnesses are examined and cross-examined as in a Court of law.

(iv)A party may be represented by a legal practitioner.

(v) The tribunal is required to decide on the basis of evidence adduced and according to the
provision of the statutes.
(vi)Members of the tribunal are persons qualified to be Judges.
A few more characteristics were added to this list by the Supreme Court in later
decisions:
(vii)

It is required to sit in public.

(viii)

It must be capable of giving determinative judgment or award affecting the

rights and obligations of parties.

(ix) It must be endowed with State's inherent judicial power, meaning thereby
that it has statutory origin.

MECHANISM FOR ADMINISTRATIVE

ADJUDIACTION

Tribunals are largely classified into two categories i.e. domestic tribunal and statutory
tribunal. This classification is based on the nature of the subject matter they adjudicate.

1) Domestic Tribunals.
2) Statutory Tribunal

Domestic Tribunals:
Domestic tribunal is a private body, not-statutory body set up by the agreement either express
or implied between the parties and designed as tribunal is really not a tribunal. It exercises
jurisdiction over the internal affairs and its decisions are subject to judicial control under the
doctrine of ultra vires. For examples- Tribunals of Bangladesh Bar Council, Bangladesh
Medical Association etc.

1. The domestic tribunal deals with the private matters rather than public matters.

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2. The domestic tribunal does not follow procedures of the trial.

3. It deals with the internal affairs of a particular profession or association.
4. No court fee is required in domestic tribunal.

Statutory Tribunal:
Statutory tribunal is a statutory body. When any tribunals are created by the provisions of
statutes or under the authority of a statute they should strictly be called statutory tribunal. The
jurisdictions of the statutory tribunals are rest upon the statutes. For examples- Bangladesh
Labour Appellate Tribunal.

1. Statutory tribunals adjudicate matters of public concern.

2. It deals with the disputes between a govt. employee and the govt. in service matter.

Distinction between Domestic Tribunal and Statutory Tribunal

The following distinguishing features between domestic tribunals and statutory tribunals
Should be kept in mind:
1. Whereas the jurisdiction of a domestic tribunal is founded on an agreement or
contract between its members, (express or implied) jurisdiction of a statutory tribunal
rests on the statute or rules framed thereunder.
2. In case of a domestic tribunal, even if the action is not lawful, normally, a writ
jurisdiction under Article 32 or 226 or supervisory jurisdiction under Article 227or
under Article 136 of the Constitution is not available though other remedies such as
declaration, injunction, damages, etc. can be sought in appropriate cases.
In case of statutory tribunal, however, the orders passed or actions taken are subject
to the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court or High Courts under the Constitution of
India.

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3. It is open to a domestic tribunal to adopt its own procedure consistent with the principles
of natural justice and fair play. Statutory tribunal, on the other hand, derive power and
authority from a statute which creates it, and has to follow procedure laid down in the Act
under which it has been established

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COURT AND A TRIBUNAL

Some differences between a Courts and a Tribunal are:
1. Tribunals are set up to be less formal, less expensive, and a faster way to resolve disputes
than by using the traditional court system.
2. Tribunals may not allow people to be represented by a lawyer, may not allow crossexamination of witnesses where as the court always allows this.
3. Tribunals often specialise in resolving disputes in a particular area where as the courts
generally have the power to hear a much broader range of cases.
4. The nature of tribunal is ad hoc, and the court is a permanent body.
5. The tribunal will be governed by chairmen that will have a special knowledge about the
issue or level of legal training but, a judge in courts has general knowledge about many areas
of law.
6. Courts follow well defined procedures detailed in their Rules, whereas tribunal procedures
are more flexible.
7. The doctrine of precedents applied in particular superior courts whereas tribunals will not
follow the strict rule of precedent.

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CONCLUSIONS
In practice there are a number of tribunals functioning in the country. Very few of them,
however, have been able to inspire confidence in the public. The tribunals have shown a
singular lack of competence and objectivity in determining disputes. Another reason for their
failure is the constitution of the tribunals and the method of appointment of the personnel.
Persons with expertise and the right qualifications do not want to sit on these tribunals thus
leading to the unsatisfactory functioning of these tribunals. The uncertainty of tenure,
unsatisfactory service conditions, interference by the executive and political interference have
further impeded the proper development of tribunals in India. Tribunals are supposed to
provide specialised adjudicatory services but the type of people appointed lack the requisite
expertise and are on the tribunals merely because of political pressure and executive
interference.
Tribunals are supposed to serve as alternative institutional mechanisms to high courts, they
must therefore be able to inspire public confidence by proving themselves to be a competent
and expert mechanism with a judicial and objective approach. In order to achieve this it is
essential that members of the tribunal are equipped with adequate judicial acumen and
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expertise. These judicial officers need to be balanced with experts in the particular field. Only
a judicious blend of the two will be able to provide an effective and result oriented tribunal
system. Another important measure which needs to be taken are steps to maintain the
independence of the members of these tribunals from political or executive interference. Just
as the ordinary judiciary are protected from political control through security of tenure and
through institutionalized methods of appointment (through a selection committee comprising
of the Chief Justice, Departmental secretaries, etc.) in order to further reduce the burden on
the high courts the high courts must be divested of the supervisory jurisdiction over the
tribunals. It is essential therefore that a single centralised nodal agency be established to
oversee the functioning of the tribunals. Such a centralised umbrella organisation will ensure
the independence of the tribunals in matters of tenure and funds.
Thus the overall picture regarding tribunalisation of justice in the country is far from
satisfactory. A fresh look at the system of tribunals in India is required so as to ensure speedy
justice and quick disposal of disputes arising out of administrative disputes which are
essential for the development of the nation.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
WEBSITES:1)http://www.preservearticles.com/2011111216927/short-essay-on-the-administrativetribunals-of-india.html
2) http://lawcommissionofindia.nic.in/101-169/report162.pdf
3) http://lawcare87.blogspot.in/2014/02/concept-of-tribunals.html

BOOKS:1) Dr. J.J.R. Upadhyaya, administrative law, 7th edition, central law agency.

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