Tribunal

noun (also attributive/adjective, as in "tribunal proceedings")

/traɪˈbjuːnəl/

A specialised judicial or quasi-judicial body established by statute to adjudicate disputes in specific areas such as administrative service matters, taxation, or environmental protection, supplementing but not substituting the jurisdiction of High Courts.

✍️ Usage in a UPSC answer

When ordinary courts are overburdened, specialised tribunals such as the National Green Tribunal can deliver swifter, subject-expert adjudication, provided their independence from the executive is scrupulously safeguarded against dilution.

Synonyms

courtbenchjudicial bodyforumpaneladjudicatory body

🌱 Word Family

tribunals (n pl), tribune (n), tribunate (n), tribunician (adj), tribunitial (adj)

🔡 Root

Latin tribūnal = raised platform for magistrates; tribūnus = head of a tribe; tribus = tribe

📜 Etymology

From Old French tribunal, from Latin tribūnal ("raised platform for magistrates"), from tribūnus ("head of a tribe"), from tribus ("tribe").

🧠 Memory Hook

A TRIBUNAL is where a "TRIBUNE" (Roman magistrate) once sat on a raised platform to judge a TRIBE's disputes - tribe + the magistrate's bench = a court of judgement.

📝 Seen in UPSC Question Papers

Prelims 2018 — Environmental Laws
Mains 2019 · GS2 · 10 marks — Governance

Real UPSC previous-year questions whose text uses “Tribunal” — proof this word earns its place on your list.

⚖️ Polity & Constitution 📖 Seen in: Statutory & Regulatory Bodies — Commis...

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