All DRT Vacancies Filled : Attorney General Tells Supreme Court

He apprised the Bench that the Selection Committee has recommended 25 names for all the vacancies. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet had accepted all the names recommended in two tranches. The first tranche consists of 18 members who have already joined and for the 7 members in the second tranche offers of appointment have already been issued.

"The Selection Committee had recommended 25 names for all 25. The ACC has accepted all the names in two tranches - 18 and 7. In the first tranche of 18 all have joined, in the second tranche of 7, offers of appointment have been issued."

Justice Rao was pleased to hear that DRT members were being appointed especially in the light of the fact that there are States like Odisha wherein the DRT is not functioning for the past three years. He stated -

"Today we issued notice in (Article) 32 petition that in Odisha the DRT is not functioning for the past three years. Because the petitioner could not go anywhere we had to entertain a 32. It is good that you told us that these DRT members are being appointed because you cannot leave them in the lurch."

Mr. Venugopal stated that all 25 members have now been appointed and there remains no vacancy.

"All 25 Have Been Appointed, There Are No More Vacancies."

The Bench was hearing a petition filed by the DRT Bar Association Delhi under Article 32 of the Constitution challenging the provisions of the Tribunal, Appellate Tribunal and other Authorities (Qualifications, Experience, and other Conditions of Service of Members) (Amendment) Rules 2021 to the extent they exclude advocates from the zone of consideration for appointment as DRT/DRAT Presiding Officers.

Case Title: DRT Bar Association Delhi v. Union of India WP (C) No. 809 of 2021