Advocates:
Gopal Singh, J.B.DADACHAN, J.P.GOYAL, M.C.SETALVAD, O.C.MATHUR, R.N.SACH, Ravindra Narayan

A tribunal, within the context of the legal document, is an adjudicating authority that is vested with the judicial powers of the State and is constituted by the State to decide disputes between parties. The key attributes of a tribunal include being an authority other than a regular court, but still possessing the capacity to determine rights and obligations in a conclusive manner based on judicial or quasi-judicial functions.

The fundamental criterion for identifying a body as a tribunal under the relevant constitutional provision is that it must be invested with the judicial powers of the State, either by statute or statutory rule, and must act judicially or quasi-judicially in resolving disputes. The presence of certain procedural trappings of a court, such as the authority to determine disputes in a formal manner, the power to examine evidence, and the obligation to act fairly and objectively, are relevant but not solely determinative. The core requirement is that the authority exercises the judicial power conferred upon it by the State for resolving disputes impartially and conclusively (!) (!) (!) .

In summary, a tribunal is a body created by the State with the authority to adjudicate disputes, exercising judicial or quasi-judicial functions, and is distinguished from purely administrative or executive bodies by its exercise of the State’s inherent judicial power (!) (!) (!) .