India, Feb. 17 -- The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Union government to place before it, within four weeks, a comprehensive and uniform proposal on the functioning of tribunals across the country, underlining that these quasi-judicial bodies cannot be permitted to become dysfunctional or defunct.

A bench, comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul Pancholi, made it clear that the Centre must take a considered and holistic call on the future of the tribunal system and present a scheme for judicial scrutiny.

"Let the institutions not be defunct. The government has to take a call. Bring a proposal before us for judicial consideration," observed the bench.

The court indicated that the proposa...