Difference Between Court and Tribunal

Understanding the Indian judicial system involves learning the difference between courts and tribunals. Both are the integral parts of the legal system responsible for the settlement of disputes; however they differ on two key grounds: composition, and jurisdiction, and procedural issues. Courts are traditional organizations that deal with a great number of civil and criminal matters following established legal procedures. Tribunals, for their part, are quasi-judicial bodies designed to deal with certain kinds of disputes having administrative or regulatory undertones, and procedure is often more flexible.

This is one of the most crucial topics relevant to the General Studies Paper II of the UPSC exam syllabus for the governance, constitution, polity, social justice, and international relations syllabus. An understanding of the judicial framework must involve all courts and tribunals to which aspiring civil servants should be alert.

What is a Court?

A court is an institution that, under the rule of law, has the administration of justice in civil, criminal, and administrative cases between parties. Courts follow formal legal procedures which are bound by precedents and statutory provisions.

Types of Courts in India

India has a highly structured judiciary with a judiciary hierarchy. The main forms of courts are as follows.

• Supreme Court: The Supreme Court is the highest judicial authority in India. It has the ultimate appellate jurisdiction and is responsible for upholding the Constitution. It deals with constitutional, civil, and criminal cases of immense public importance.
• High Courts: Every state and union territory has its own High Court. High Courts have jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases within their respective states and handle appeals from lower courts.
• District Courts: They are district level courts which decide the civil and criminal matters falling in their area of jurisdiction. These come within the administrative domain of High Courts.
• Subordinate Courts: These are various lower courts which include Civil Courts, Criminal Courts, Family Courts, and Small Causes Courts that deal with somewhat smaller civil and criminal matters.

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What are Tribunals?

Tribunals are specialized bodies created to resolve disputes on specific issues, such as administrative, tax, service, or industrial matters. Tribunals are intended to provide an expeditious, effective, and less formal substitute for court processes. Technical members and judicial officers usually compose tribunals to ensure informed judgments in technical issues.

Types of Tribunals in India

Several tribunals have been set up in India, with their own respective jurisdictions. Some of the major tribunals are as follows:

• Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT): Deals with disputes and grievances regarding central government employees' recruitment and service conditions.
• Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT): Hears appeals under direct tax laws.
• National Green Tribunal (NGT): Exercises authority over environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural resources.
• Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT): It handles appeals against any order made by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
• Debt Recovery Tribunal (DRT): It helps recover debts, which the borrower owes to banks or any other financial establishments.

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Difference Between Court and Tribunal

The above differences between courts and tribunals can be better understood with the following comparative discussion:

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We hope your doubts regarding the topic have been addressed after going through the above article. Testbook offers good quality preparation material for different competitive examinations. Succeed in your UPSC IAS exam preparations by downloading the Testbook App here!