CAT Vacancies: Supreme Court Issues Notice On Plea To Stay Retirement Of Existing Members Until Actual Joining Of New Members

The bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and Surya Kant in their order said,

"Issue notice. Liberty to serve dasti at the Central Agency and we'll take it up next Friday."

Preferred by Central Administrative Tribunal (Principal Bench) Bar Association, New Delhi, it was stated in the petition that although 35 Judicial Members including the Chairman and 35 Administrative Members cater to 19 benches and 8 circuit benches but due to retirement of members at regular intervals, many benches of the Tribunals have become non functional.

"As on 31st March, 2022 the Guwahati Bench has become totally non-functional as no Member is available there. Besides the Jabalpur Bench, Cuttack Bench, Lucknow Bench, Jammu and Srinagar Bench are left with only one member either Judicial or Administrative because of which no division bench can be constituted there," the petition stated.

Taking note of this submission, Justice Chandrachud said, "With one member, you can't constitute a bench also."

He further asked the counsel for the Central Administrative Tribunal (Principal Bench) Bar Association, New Delhi, to submit an up to date chart with regards to the number of members who are present in the various benches of CAT.

"Give details of the members whose term is likely now to expire in Future," Justice Kant further added.

The plea stated that if the aforesaid situation continues for a couple of more months, more than half of the sanctioned benches of the Central Administrative Tribunal will become non-functional.

The petition has been filed through AOR Amita Singh Kalkal.

Case Title: Central Administrative Tribunal (Principal Bench) Bar Association, New Delhi v Union of India & Ors

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