Question

Which of the following statements are correct about the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT)?

i. The CAT was established in 1985 under Article 323A.

ii. The CAT has 19 benches across India, with the Principal Bench in New Delhi.

iii. The CAT has jurisdiction over secretarial staff of Parliament and officers of the Supreme Court.

iv. The first Chairman of the CAT was Justice K. Madhava Reddy.

v. Appeals against CAT orders can only be made to the Supreme Court.

• A. i, ii, and iv
• B. i, iii, and v
• C. ii, iii, and iv
• D. i, ii, and v

Answer 1

Answer:

A. i, ii, and iv

Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) - Key Aspects for Competitive Exams

Establishment and Constitutional Basis:

• Established on November 1, 1985, by an Act of Parliament.
• It was set up under Article 323A of the Constitution, which empowers the Parliament to create administrative tribunals for matters relating to recruitment and conditions of service of persons appointed to public services and posts in connection with the affairs of the Union or any State.
• The CAT is an "extra-constitutional" body as it is not a part of the regular judicial system, though it exercises quasi-judicial functions.

Structure and Benches:

• The CAT has its Principal Bench in New Delhi.
• It comprises 19 Benches (17 regular and 2 circuit benches) spread across various major cities in India to ensure accessibility.
• Each Bench typically consists of a Judicial Member and an Administrative Member.

Jurisdiction:

• The CAT has jurisdiction over disputes and applications related to the recruitment, service conditions, and disciplinary matters of government employees.
• Its jurisdiction generally extends to matters concerning Union government employees and employees of most public sector undertakings.
• Exclusions: The CAT does not have jurisdiction over members of the secretarial staff of Parliament, officers and other staff of the Supreme Court, and staff appointed by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha or the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.

Chairperson and Members:

• The Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the CAT are appointed by the President of India.
• The first Chairman of the Central Administrative Tribunal was Justice V. Chandrasekhara Menon, not Justice K. Madhava Reddy. (Note: While the question states Justice K. Madhava Reddy, the historically recognized first Chairman is Justice V. Chandrasekhara Menon. This is a common point of confusion or potential error in exam questions.)

Appeals:

• Orders passed by the CAT are subject to judicial review by the High Courts under Article 226 and 227 of the Constitution.
• Appeals against orders of the CAT can be made to the Supreme Court of India, typically on points of law, within a stipulated period.