Supreme Court Urges Centre To Extend Terms Of Present Tribunal Members Till Fresh Appointments

The Supreme Court on Tuesday urged the Centre to consider extending the terms of existing tribunal members on an ad hoc basis until fresh appointments are made, cautioning that tribunals should not become defunct due to vacancies.A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana was hearing the Madras Bar Association matter concerning vacancies in tribunals. A counsel mentioned an application filed by the DRAT Calcutta Bar Association, relating to the imminent retirement of the Presiding Member of the DRAT bench,for urgent listing.Attorney General for India R Venkataramani, appearing for the Centre, submitted that the process for filling vacancies had been set in motion and suggested that the interlocutory applications may no longer be entertained.CJI Surya Kant, however, asked the Centre whether it could extend the existing ad hoc arrangement for a month or so to ensure continuity in the functioning of…