Regulatory decisions must remain open to judicial scrutiny, says Telangana high court CJ | Hyderabad News

Hyderabad: Chief Justice of Telangana high court Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh on Saturday said adjudicatory bodies must strike a balance between regulatory autonomy, specialised expertise and judicial accountability, while ensuring that neither adjudication substitutes regulation nor regulatory decisions escape effective judicial scrutiny.Addressing a seminar on ‘Mechanisms for resolution of disputes in airport tariffs, telecom, broadcasting and cyber sectors‘, organised by the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) in Hyderabad, the Chief Justice highlighted the importance of effective, timely and specialised resolution of disputes arising in these rapidly evolving sectors.Justice Singh said timely disposal of disputes is equally important, as prolonged litigation can undermine regulatory objectives and create uncertainty for both industry and consumers.Referring to the constitutional framework governing tribunals, he underlined that specialised adjudication must function within the rule of law. He noted that judicial review by the high courts and the Supreme Court forms part of the basic structure of the Constitution, and that tribunals complement the judicial system while remaining subject to constitutional judicial scrutiny.The Chief Justice also drew attention to emerging challenges in cyber and artificial intelligence (AI) domains. Rapid technological advancements, he said, have increased the complexity of cyber-related disputes, fraud, and issues concerning accountability and oversight. “While technology and AI can assist adjudicatory processes; they cannot replace judicial reasoning, accountability and human oversight,” he emphasised.Justice DN Patel, chairperson of TDSAT, highlighted the tribunal’s role in providing specialised and time-bound dispute resolution in the telecom, broadcasting, airport tariff and cyber sectors.Stressing the need for greater awareness among policymakers, regulators, industry stakeholders and legal professionals, Justice Patel said effective dispute resolution mechanisms were essential for addressing the challenges posed by these sectors.Highlighting the framework for resolving cyber disputes, he explained that under the Information Technology Act, designated adjudicating officers initially hear civil disputes involving compensation claims of up to Rs 5 crore.Justice P Sam Koshy of the high court, advocate general A Sudershan Reddy and high court bar association president S Surender Reddy also addressed the seminar.