Srinagar, November 23: A separate Bench of Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) at Srinagar to deal exclusively with service matters of government employees has started functioning today.
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.
A press release claimed that now all three important agencies of DoPT- CAT, CIC and CVC are fully functional in UTs of J&K and Ladakh.
With the functioning of a second Bench of CAT at Srinagar may probably ease out some burden of various Courts and expedite relief to government employees in respect of their grievances and service matters.
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 D.S. Mahra as also the support officers and staff have been deputed at Srinagar Bench to manage its functioning.
With the notification of Tribunals Reforms Act, 2021 on 13.8.2021, the process for filling up 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 of as per an official claim.
It may be recalled that after the abrogation of the Article 370, the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh became two separate Union Territories and accordingly 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 including 17363 received from High Court. Out of 17363 cases, CAT Jammu has disposed of 4371 cases (2452 of Srinagar Wing and 1919 of Jammu Wing). As of now 12992 cases 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 be transferred to CAT.
