The annual All India Conference of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) was held in New Delhi, today. The one day conference was attended by Judicial and Administrative Members from all 17 Benches of CAT from across the country, members of the CAT Bar Association and eminent Jurists, who deliberated on key issues related to the functioning of the Tribunal and priorities for 2020.
The Judicial and Administrative Members of CAT deliberated in two technical sessions on issues related to the work of CAT, including structural and institutional issues, the functioning of administrative tribunals in other legal systems and methodology for the functioning of the tribunal. The sessions also deliberated on the identification of measures to improve the quality of adjudication and rate of disposal, service condition of members and infrastructural aspect of the Tribunal’s Benches.
The Conference was presided over by Union Minister for Law and Justice, Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad. In his address, Shri Prasad congratulated Justice L. Narismha Reddy, Chairman CAT, and his team for bringing about a significant improvement in disposal of cases despite shortage of members in the Tribunal. He welcomed the role which the CAT has played in the evolution of service jurisprudence in the country, in the light of its various milestone judgments. He emphasized on the need for an in-house judicial impact assessment by CAT and on the importance of training in service jurisprudence. The Minister also advised that judicial learning is also very important since the law is in the realm of ambiguity. He highlighted the importance of laying down judgments on service jurisprudence with greater clarity, in view of the government’s commitment towards greater transparency in governance. He assured the help of the IT Department and use of artificial intelligence in the functioning of the Tribunal.
Union Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region (I/C), Prime Minister’s Office, Personnel, Public Grievances < Kashmir and Ladakh. In this regard, he had a discussion with Justice Reddy and it has been resolved that for the time being, Jurisdictional Benches will entertain service cases for Jammu