23-Nov-2021: Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurates a separate Bench of Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) at Srinagar to deal exclusively with service matters of government employees
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh today inaugurated a separate Bench of Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) at Srinagar to deal exclusively with service matters of government employees. While the CAT Bench at Jammu started functioning with effect from 08.06.2020 and now with the issuance of notification (dated 17.11.2021) of jurisdiction of Srinagar Bench is also made functional. The Minister said with today’s historic decision, now all three important agencies of DoPT- CAT, CIC and CVC are fully functional in UTs of J&K and Ladakh.
Dr Jitendra Singh said Jammu and Kashmir is the rare State/UT in the country to have two CAT Benches and this is because Prime Minister Narendra Modi accords special priority to J&K and he takes a keen interest in the matters and issues related to the new Union Territory. He said, two Benches for J&K will go a long way in not only reducing the burden of various Courts, but would also provide to the persons covered by the Administrative Tribunals speedy relief in respect of their grievances and service matters.
Dr Jitendra Singh informed that the Jurisdiction of Jammu Bench of CAT extends up to 10 districts of UT of J&K and one district (Leh) from UT of Ladakh, while the jurisdiction of Srinagar Bench extends up to 10 districts of UT of J&K and one district (Kargil) from UT of Ladakh. A Judicial Member, Shri D.S. Mahra, as also the support officers and staff have been deputed at Srinagar Bench to manage its functioning.
Dr Jitendra Singh concluded that Modi Government is committed to Transparency and “Justice for All” and the people friendly reforms taken in the last seven years have benefitted the entire country including people of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. He said that more than 800 Central laws, which were not applicable to J&K have been made applicable since the abolition of Article 370 and 35A on 5th August 2019 for the benefit of people of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh and now they enjoy same rights as people from the rest of India.
Dr Jitendra Singh said, with the notification of Tribunals Reforms Act, 2021 on 13.8.2021, the process for filling up of vacancies of Members in CAT has been started. Presently, the post of Chairman, CAT is occupied by Ms. Manjula Das and it has been the constant endeavour of the Government to strengthen the infrastructure in all the Benches of CAT for their smooth functioning. Referring to high disposal rate of cases, the Minister informed that since its inception in 1985 and up to 30.6.2021, the Central Administrative Tribunal received 8,56,069 cases for adjudication (including those transferred from High Courts), out of which 7,86,647cases have been disposed of, leaving a pendency of 69,422 cases. On average, more than 91.89% of the cases instituted are disposed, he added.
It may be recalled that after the abrogation of the Article 370, the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh became two separate Union Territories and according employees of erstwhile State of Jammu & Kashmir became the employees of the Union Territories. As such the disputes pertaining to their service matters are now being adjudicated by CAT. At the time of Inauguration of CAT Jammu Bench 30,000 service matters were pending including17363 received from High court. Out of received 17363 cases, CAT Jammu has disposed 4371 cases (2452 of Srinagar Wing and 1919 of Jammu Wing).As of now 12992 case are pending (7610 of Srinagar Wing and 5382 of Jammu Wing.)7610 cases are being sent to CAT Srinagar from CAT Jammu. Almost 13000 cases are still in High court which will come to CAT.
8-Jun-2020: Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurates CAT Bench at Jammu.
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh today inaugurated the 18th Bench of Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) for the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh through a Video Conference. Speaking after the inauguration Dr. Singh said that the setting up of CAT Bench of Jammu to deal exclusively with service matters of government employees would go a long way in not only reducing the burden of various Courts and thereby giving them more time to deal with other cases expeditiously but would also provide to the persons covered by the Administrative Tribunals speedy relief in respect of their grievances and service matters. He said that Modi Government is committed to Transparency and “Justice for All” and the people friendly reforms taken in the last six years have benefitted the entire country including people of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. He said that more than 800 Central laws, which were not applicable to J&K have been made applicable since the abolition of Article 370 and 35A on 5th August 2019 for the benefit of people of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh and now they enjoy same rights as people from the rest of India. Dr. Jitendra Singh expressed hope that pendency of about 30,000 cases would be resolved in a time bound and judicious manner.
Dr Jitendra Singh said that all three important agencies of DoPT- CAT, CIC and CVC are now operational in UTs of J&K and Ladakh. Earlier, in a notification issued on 28.05.2020 in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (7) of section 5 of the Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985 (13 of 1985), the Central Government has specified Jammu and Srinagar as the places at which the benches of the Central Administrative Tribunal shall ordinarily sit for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and Union Territory of Ladakh. Similarly, the Central Information Commission (CIC) has started hearing Right to Information (RTI) Act applications of applicants from the UTs of J&K and Ladakh from 15.05.2020. Dr. Singh said that Shri Sanjay Kothari, Central Vigilance Commissioner who called on him on 5th May, 2020 informed the Minister that the jurisdiction of the Central Vigilance Commission has been extended over the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Chairman, Central Administrative Tribunal Hon’ble Mr. Justice L. Narasimha Reddy gave the welcome address. The inaugural ceremony was also addressed by Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir Hon’ble Ms. Gita Mittal and Lieutenant Governor of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir Shri Girish Chandra Murmu. Member Judicial, Central Administrative Tribunal, Jammu Shri Rakesh Sagar Jain gave the vote of thanks on the occasion.
11-Apr-2020: Press Statement from Central Administrative Tribunal
It has always been the endeavour of the Principal Bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal and its Benches across the Country to dispose off as many as cases as possible and to function to the satisfaction of the persons who approached the Tribunal for remedies. As a matter of fact, the disposal rate even upto the month of February 2020 had been phenomenal.
With the outbreak of the Corona Virus, the sittings were arranged on the alternative ensure that the social distance is maintained. However, even that became impossible in view of the steps taken by the Government from 22nd of March onwards. With the imposition of lock down, it became impossible for the Benches to function since neither the Advocates nor the Employees of the Tribunal would be in a position to attend to the work. The option to conduct the hearings through Video Conference was not available firstly because the necessary equipment infrastructure was not in place and secondly it was not possible to procure it in view of lock down. The Principal Bench in fact was scheduled to be on a mini vacation from 2nd to 12th of April.
The further course of action would be decided depending on the steps which the Government would take in respect of the period from 15.04.2020 onwards. Even if there exists the slightest possibility to conduct the Courts, the same would be availed.