New Delhi: The Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana on Thursday, September 16 orally remarked that the Supreme Court may suo motu stay the Tribunal Reforms Act, 2021, Live Law reported.The remark came while a three-judge consisting of the CJI and Justices Hima Kohli and Surya Kant heard a plea by Justice Ashok Iqbal Singh Cheema regarding his premature retirement from the post of chairman of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) by the centre.As per his appointment order, Justice Cheema was meant to hold the position until September 20, when he attained the retirement age of 67. However, he was dismissed on September 11, which marked four years since he assumed the post.Attorney General K.K. Venugopal stated that the government was prepared to consider the remainder of Justice Cheema’s term – September 10 – 20 – as notional continuous service. Taking objection to this, the bench noted that Justice Cheema had reserved judgments in five cases and would need to actually exercise his powers to adjudicate them“He has reserved 5 judgments. If you suddenly retire him, there will be a problem in re-hearing those cases. The way in which this order passed is awkward. How fair is it?” the CJI asked.AG Venugopal defended the government’s actions, stating that it had the authority to retire Justice Cheema under a provision of the Tribunal Reforms Act which fixes the tenure of tribunal members at four years. In response to this, CJI Ramana said, “Then we will have to suo motu stay your legislation.”There has been continuing friction between the centre and the apex court with regards to the Tribunal Reforms Act due to the fact that several provisions, which had been struck down by the court in July, remain in the legislation.Section 5 of the Act, which fixes the tenures of tribunal members at four years or until their turn 67, was one of the provisions which the court had struck down.Also read: SC Raps Centre for Continued Failure to Make Appointments to TribunalsRetired high court judge Justice Cheema’s plea stated that the government’s order to cut short his tenure “violates the independence of the judiciary” and cites the Supreme Court’s verdict on the tenure of tribunal members, delivered while hearing a plea by the Madras Bar Association, India Today reportedWhile the case was being heard on September 15, senior advocate Arvind P. Datar, appearing for Justice Cheema, noted that the premature dismissals of tribunal members is a “disturbing trend”, claiming that similar appointments were being made to other tribunals as well. “We should protect the respect of [the] judiciary,” Datar noted.After a 30-minute halt in proceedings, AG Venugopal returned to the courtroom and announced that Justice Cheema would be reinstated for the remainder of his tenure so that he could pass judgements in the five pending cases before the NCLAT.He also noted that the incumbent chairperson of the NCLAT, Justice M. Venugopal, will be asked to be on leave for the designated period.Thanking the AG for solving the issue, CJI Ramana disposed of the writ petition.