ii. Quasi-Judicial Bodies

UPSC Sample Notes [English]

ii. Quasi-Judicial Bodies

[Image: Examples of Quasi-Judicial Bodies in India]

A Quasi-Judicial Body is a body, usually of a Public Administrative Agency, that has powers and processes similar to those of a Court of Law or Judge and is required to impartially establish the facts and draw conclusions from them to serve as the foundation for official action.

According to another definition, a quasi-judicial body is “an organ of government other than a court or legislature, which impacts the rights of private parties either through adjudication or rulemaking.”

A quasi-judicial body, such as the National Green Tribunal, need not be a court of law.
These organizations work to lighten the load on the judiciary. The concerns that are relevant to the specific administrative agency are the only ones that fall under quasi-judicial activity.
A quasi-judicial decision may be challenged in court.
These groups typically have settlement powers over issues including misconduct, norms of conduct, and trust in financial or other problems.
They often only have authority over matters related to their field of expertise, which may be financial markets, employment laws, public standards, immigration, or regulation.

Important Quasi-Judicial Bodies in India:

Important Quasi-Judicial Bodies	Details
National Green Tribunal	With the Notification of the Central Government, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) Act came into force in 2010. NGT exercises the jurisdiction, powers, and authority granted to it by or under the NGT Act.
National Human Rights Commission	The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) was established in 1993 under the Protection of Human Rights Act (PHRA), 1993 which was later amended by the Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Act, 2006. They are mandated to protect the rights and dignity of Indian citizens.
Central Information Commission	By the Right to Information Act of 2005, the Central Information Commission was established in 2005. The Central Information Commission (CIC) is a crucial component of the nation’s effective governance.
National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission	The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission or the NCDRC is a quasi-judicial commission established as per the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986.
Appellate Tribunal for Electricity	The Electricity Act of 2003 established the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity as a statutory and independent body to hear complaints, appeals, or original petitions challenging decisions made by the State Regulatory Commission, Central Regulatory Commission, Joint Commission, or adjudicating officer.
Income Tax Appellate Tribunal	To handle appeals involving the Direct Taxes Acts, the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) was founded in January 1941 as a quasi-judicial body. The rulings of the ITAT are final; only a substantive question of law that requires resolution may be appealed to the High Court.
Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal	A quasi-judicial organization in India that handles appeals against orders and judgments made under the Central Excise Act of 1944 and the Customs Act of 1962 is called the Customs, Excise, and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT). Under section 129 of the 1962 Customs Act, it was established as the Customs, Excise, and Gold (Control) Appellate Tribunal (CEGAT)