Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 4: A Bench of Supreme Court comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan has stressed that there should be a permanent building along with proper court rooms, chambers, rooms for officers and other staff for the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) Jammu. Moreover, the Apex Court has sought fresh status report in respect of shifting of the Tribunal to new building.
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When the petition titled Achal Sharma Versus Union of India and Others came up for hearing, the Supreme Court Bench observed, “a status report, by way of an affidavit, has been filed on behalf of the Union of India regarding the functioning of the Benches of the Central Administrative Tribunal at Jammu and Srinagar”.
“In the affidavit, it is explained that pursuant to a meeting held on 17.12.2024 between the Judicial Member/Head of Department, CAT (Jammu Bench) and other officers of the J&K and Union Governments, a decision was made to take a private building on rent to shift the Tribunal”, the Supreme Court observed.
The Bench further observed, “there are some shortcomings in the building and all the incomplete works are likely to be completed by the end of January 2025. Similarly, with regard to the requirement of additional staff, the status report explains that out of 58 sanctioned posts, 26 are filled up on regular basis, whereas 10 posts are filled up from outsourced staff against transferred posts”.
Stating that Bench of Central Administrative Tribunal at Jammu appears to be a permanent feature, the Apex Court stressed, “there should be a permanent building along with proper court rooms, chambers, rooms for officers and other staff. Similarly, it may not be prudent to deploy outsourced staff in a judicial/quasi-judicial institution, where the maintenance of records, confidentiality, updating of records, etc are day-to-day challenges”.
“The Additional Solicitor General of India seeks and is granted four weeks’ time to seek instructions in this regard. Post the matter for further consideration on 14.02.2025. Meanwhile, a fresh status report in respect of shifting of the Tribunal to the rented building may also be filed”, read the order passed by the Supreme Court.
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