Section 16 deals with orders constituting Tribunals. Under this section, if there is a defect in the constitution of the Tribunal, what is the effect on its proceedings?

Section 16 provides two important protections: (i) no order of the Central Government appointing any person as Presiding Officer or Chairperson shall be called in question in any manner; and (ii) no act or proceeding before a Tribunal or Appellate Tribunal shall be called in question in any manner on the ground merely of any defect in the constitution of a Tribunal or Appellate Tribunal. This curative provision ensures that procedural or technical defects in the constitution of the Tribunal do not invalidate decades of hearings, orders, and recovery proceedings. It promotes finality and certainty in the dispute resolution process - a concept familiar from Section 14 of the General Clauses Act, 1897.