Kerala High Court Grants Further Extension For Appointment Of KAT Chairman

A PIL had been admitted on 30^th April 2021 by Kerala Administrative Tribunal Ernakulam Advocates Association praying that a Chairman be appointed to the Tribunal at the earliest.

By an interim order dated 1^st June 2021, this Division Bench had directed the competent authority to take decision on recommendation for appointment of Chairman within three weeks, which expired earlier this week.

Responding to the Court, the ASGI submitted that a further four weeks' time was required for the competent authority to take a decision on the recommendation for the appointment of Chairman of the Kerala Administrative Tribunal.

Senior Advocate S. Ramesh Babu vehemently opposed this proposition on behalf of the petitioner.

It is to be noted that a subsequent petition on this regard had also been filed before this Court seeking that a Chairman be appointed to the Kerala State Tribunal, and that the formal orders be passed to extend the tenure of the existing Judicial Members by another term. In this petition as well, it was pointed out that no action had been taken by the competent authority despite the interim order directing them to appoint the Chairman within 3 weeks.

Justice A. Muhamed Mustaque and Dr. Kauser Edappagath while hearing the matter noted that a new Selection Committee had already been constituted with the Acting Chairman. In light of this, the Court saw no hurdle for the Selection Committee to proceed with the selection.

Modifying the previous interim order passed by this Bench, it was observed as follows:

Taking note of the fact that recommendation is actively being considered by the competent authority, it is appropriate to grant three more weeks' time from today to take a decision in the light of the earlier order passed by us.

The matter was posted on 16^th July for further consideration of the other prayers.