Consensus emerged on bringing more institutions under CAT at All India Conference of Central Administrative Tribunal

Consensus emerged on bringing more institutions under CAT at All India Conference of Central Administrative Tribunal

The All India Conference of Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), held in New Delhi on November 1, 2009, which was inaugurated by the Chief Justice of India Justice K G Balakrishnan and witnessed participation of the Union Minister for Law and Justice M Veerappa Moily and the Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions Prithviraj Chavan. A few of the many significant recommendations made during the conference are as follows: (i) To approach the Central Government to consider amending Article 227(4) of the Constitution which would facilitate appeals against the orders of the Tribunal before the Supreme Court of India directly as is done in respect of Armed Forces Tribunal as was the position before the L. Chandra Kumar Judgment in 1997. (ii) It was indicated that Central Government may issue more notifications under Section 14(2) of the Administrative Tribunals Act bringing more institutions within the purview of the CAT, as it has expertise to deal with service matters. (iii) More autonomy was suggested to be extended for the Tribunal. Powers similar to those vested in Chief Justices of High Courts, under Article 229 are urged to be conferred on the Chairman, CAT. In terms of the amendment in the Administrative Tribunals Act (Sub Section 3 of Section 8) the conditions of service of the Chairman and Members are the same as applicable to the Judges of High Courts. Officers and employees of the Tribunal may be allowed scales of pay, of their counter parts in High Courts.

Courtesy: Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions