What are the characteristics of an Administrative Tribunal?

The following are the few characteristics of the administrative tribunals which make them quite disparate from the ordinary courts:

• Administrative tribunals must have a statutory origin, i.e. they must be created by any statute.
• They must have some features of the ordinary courts, but not all.
• An administrative tribunal performs the quasi-judicial and judicial functions and is bound to act judicially in every circumstance.
• They do not adhere to strict rules of evidence and procedure.
• Administrative tribunals are independent and not subject to any administrative interference in the discharge of judicial or quasi-judicial functions.
• In procedural matters, an administrative tribunal possesses the powers of a court to summon witnesses, administer oaths and to compel the production of documents, etc.
• These tribunals are bound to abide by the principle of natural justice.
• A fair, open and impartial act is the indispensable requisite of the administrative tribunals.
• The prerogative writs of certiorari and prohibition are available against the decisions of administrative tribunals.

Further Reading:

• Tribunals in India
• Central Administrative Tribunal
• Supreme Court of India