Quasi-Judicial Body: Definition and Meaning

The Indian Federation cannot function without the quasi-judicial entities that ensure each individual receives their fair share of justice. It works well by lightening the load on the judicial system and delivering swift justice to the wronged. To make these organizations effective and receptive to the demands of the people in the nation, the government must take proactive measures to close the gaps in their ability to function.

What is Quasi-Judicial Body?

The Latin root of the term "quasi" translates to "like but not quite." The quasi-judicial actions do not exactly resemble court cases. Despite appearing to have some of the rights and obligations of some laws, they are nonetheless not regarded as courts.

A quasi-judicial entity, such as an arbitrator or tribunal board, is a body with powers and processes similar to those of a court of law or judge. For the purpose of serving as the foundation for an official action, it is required to impartially ascertain the facts and form conclusions from them. Their authority is typically restricted to a single, highly specialized field, such as public standards, financial markets, land use and zoning, etc.

• A body having capabilities and procedures resembling those of a judge or court is known as a "quasi-judicial entity," such as an arbitrator or tribunal board. It is necessary to fairly gather the information and draw conclusions from it if it is to serve as the basis for a formal action. They often only have responsibility over one extremely narrow area of the law, such as public standards, financial markets, land use and zoning, etc.

Examples of quasi-judicial organizations are the National Human Rights Commission, the National Commission for Women, the National Commission for Minorities, etc.

Advantages of Quasi-Judicial

Following are the major advantages of quasi-judicial bodies −

• Similar to law imposing: The institutions known as "quasi-judicial entities" have authority akin to that of law-enforcing bodies, but they are not courts. The courts have the authority to adjudicate all disputes, but quasi-judicial authorities have the authority to impose laws on administrative agencies.

• Low Cost: In the traditional legal system, a sizable portion of the populace shies away from approaching the courts, which undermines the goal of justice. On the other hand, tribunals are generally inexpensive, which encourages people to file complaints.

• Expert Knowledge: Experts who are familiar with the specifics of a case, the necessary steps involved, and their effects make up a tribunal.

• Reduction of Workload: While dealing with specific issues, tribunals greatly assist by dividing the judiciary's enormous duty. In a country with 2.81 million pending cases, it is critical to take action to lighten the judiciary's load.

Issues in Quasi-Judicial Body

A quasi-judicial organization is generally a good idea because it lessens the burden on the judiciary, but this system has some flaws as well. The government should select people with both technical and legal understanding, and giving them the authority to make decisions will strengthen this body of government.

Quasi-Judicial Bodies in India

Following are some of the well-known quasi-judicial bodies in India −

• National Human Rights Commission

• Central Information Commission

• National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission

• District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum

• Appellate Tribunal for Electricity

• Railway Claims Tribunal

• Intellectual Property Appellate Tribunal

• Banking Ombudsman

• Income tax Ombudsman

• State Sales tax Appellate Tribunal

Purpose of Quasi-Judicial Body

Major purposes of quasi-judicial body are −

• Central Administrative Tribunal: The conflicts involving government employees are handled by this organization. For instance, figuring out a civil servants age in the event of a disagreement

• National Human Right Commission: Cases involving human rights violations are decided by it. They look into violations of human rights and suggest ways to stop them.

• National River Water Dispute Tribunal: This organization handles disputes between states, including questions of water distribution. They have the authority to make agreements for disputing states to share water.

• Election Commission: Election planning, management, and supervision fall under the purview of this organization. It also carries out some judicial duties, such as evaluating and upholding a code of conduct and deciding whether parliamentarians are ineligible.

• Other Regulatory Bodies: Other organizations that guarantee market economy openness include the SEBI, TRAI, and IRDA in addition to the ones already mentioned. They have the authority to fine people who break the law.

Conclusion

Establishing quasi-judicial bodies in India has a number of benefits, including being less expensive than the traditional legal system, having simple procedures, and having experts on the panel who can swiftly and easily grasp the case's complexities. The workload of the judiciary is also lessened as a result.

FAQs

Q1. What are the significant issues in the Quasi-Judicial Bodies in India?

Ans. The main problems with India's quasi-judicial bodies are the funding of fictitious lawsuits and the excessive requirements. These are significant problems in the sector, but these organizations serve the judiciary very well.

Q2. What is the difference between Judicial and Quasi-Judicial Bodies in India?

Ans. The main distinction between India's judicial and quasi-judicial bodies is that the former interprets the law and works independently, whereas the latter is government’s agency and work with the government.

Q3. Is RBI a quasi-judicial?

Ans. Yes.

RBI is a statutory body. And, a statutory body can be both regulatory as well as quasi-judicial in nature.

Q4. Is Niti Aayog a statutory body?

Ans. Niti Aayog is not a statutory body, but rather it is a policy think tank of the Government of India. Niti Aayog is established with the aim of achieving sustainable development goals with cooperative federalism by fostering the involvement of State Governments of India in the economic policy-making process using a bottom-up approach.

Q5. Is Niti Aayog a quasi-judicial body?

Ans. No.

Niti Aayog is not a quasi-judicial body. It does not have the power to make binding decisions or to enforce laws, as a quasi-judicial body usually have.