Central Administrative Tribunal

Union Minister of State for Personnel and Public Grievances has said that in the last three years the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has achieved a disposal rate of around 91 percent. Justice Ranjit Vasantrao More is the newly appointed CAT Chairman.

What is Central Administrative Tribunal?

• Article 323-A – 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.
• In pursuance of Article 323-A, the Parliament has passed the Administrative Tribunals Act in 1985. The act authorises the Central government to establish one Central Administrative Tribunal and the state administrative tribunals.
• The CAT is a specialist body consisting of Administrative Members and Judicial Members. It was established in 1985. A Chairman who has been a sitting or retired Judge of a High Court heads the Central Administrative Tribunal.
• It exercises jurisdiction only in relation to the service matters of the parties covered by the Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985. 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. Under Section 17 of the Administrative Tribunal Act, 1985, the Tribunal has been conferred with the power to exercise the same jurisdiction and authority in respect of contempt of itself as a High Court.
• The conditions of service of the Chairman and Members are the same as applicable to a Judge of High Court as per the Administrative Tribunals (Amendment) Act, 2006.
• The orders of Central Administrative Tribunal are challenged by way of Writ Petition under Article 226/227 of the Constitution before respective High Court in whose territorial jurisdiction the Bench of the Tribunal is situated.