Q. Consider the following statements with reference to the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT):
1. Appeals against the orders of the CAT could be made only in the Supreme Court.
2. Its jurisdiction does not extend to the secretarial staff of the Parliament.
3. It is a multi-member body consisting of a Chairman and a Vice-chairman.
How many of the above given statements are correct?
Exp) Option a is the correct answer
The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) was established in 1985 through the Administrative Tribunals Act.
Statement 1 is incorrect: Originally, appeals against the orders of the CAT could be made only in the Supreme Court and not in the high courts. But in the Chandra Kumar case (1997), the Supreme Court declared this restriction on the jurisdiction of the high courts as unconstitutional. It laid down that appeals against the orders of the CAT shall lie before the division bench of the concerned high court.
Statement 2 is correct: Jurisdiction of the CAT extends to the all-India services, the Central civil services, civil posts under the Centre and civilian employees of defence services. However, the members of the defence forces, officers and servants of the Supreme Court and the secretarial staff of the Parliament are not covered by it.
Statement 3 is incorrect: Originally, the CAT consisted of a Chairman, Vice- Chairman and members. Later, in 2006, the provision for the Vice- Chairman was removed by the Administrative Tribunals (Amendment) Act, 2006. Hence, there are now no Vice-Chairman in the CAT.
| Important Tips State Administrative Tribunal – Appointments • The chairman and members of the SATs are appointed by the president after consultation with the governor of the state concerned. • The act also makes a provision for setting up of joint administrative tribunal (JAT) for two or more states. • A JAT exercises all the jurisdiction and powers exercisable by the administrative tribunals for such states. • The chairman and members of a JAT are appointed by the president after consultation with the governors of the concerned states. |
