Union Minister Jitendra Singh inaugurated the Central Administrative Tribunal’s (CAT) Jammu bench and said it would speed up the process of redressing the grievances of employees.

Speaking after the inauguration, Singh said the setting up of the CAT’s Jammu bench to deal exclusively with service matters of government employees would go a long way in not only reducing the burden of various courts but also provide speedy relief in respect of their grievances and service matters.

The inauguration of the Jammu bench, which is the 18th bench of the tribunal, was done via video conference, according to a statement issued by the ministry of personnel.

The minister expressed hope that the pendency of about 30,000 cases would be resolved in a time bound and judicious manner.

Singh said all three important agencies of the department of personnel and training (DoPT) — CAT, Central Information Commission (CIC) and Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) are now operational in Union territories of J&K and Ladakh.

Central Administrative Tribunal

The Central Administrative Tribunal had been established under Article 323A of the Constitution for adjudication of disputes and complaints with respect to recruitment and conditions of service of persons appointed to public services and posts in connection with the affairs of the Union or other authorities under the control of the government. 

The Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985 provides for the adjudication or trial by administrative tribunals. 

There are 18 benches and 21 circuit benches in the CAT all over India. In addition to the ministries and departments of the central government, the Centre  has notified about 214 organisations under section 14(2) of the Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985 to bring them within the jurisdiction of the CAT, from time to time. 

The CAT is headed by Justice L. Narasimha Reddy, former Chief Justice of Patna High Court. There are 66 members in various benches of the tribunal out of which 33 are judicial members. Subject to other provisions of the Act, a bench consists of one judicial member and one administrative member.

Difference between court and CAT

After the establishment of CAT in 1985, it received 13,350 pending cases on transfer from the High Courts and subordinate courts under section 29 of the Administrative Tribunal Act, 1985. From its inception in 1985 to July 2018 about 7,79,101 cases were instituted in the tribunal. Out of those 7,27,818 cases have already been disposed of. That is a disposal rate of 93.41 per cent.

Under Section 17 of the Administrative Tribunal Act, 1985, CAT has been conferred with the power to exercise the same jurisdiction and authority in respect of contempt of itself as a High Court.

The Tribunal is guided by the principles of natural justice in deciding cases and is not bound by the procedure, prescribed by the Civil Procedure Code. The CAT is empowered to frame its own rules of procedure and practice. 

It exercises jurisdiction only in relation to the service matters of the parties covered by the Act. It is also free from the hurdles of many of the technicalities of the ordinary courts.

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