10th All India CAT Conference Highlights Judicial Reforms, Administrative Efficiency And Ethical Governance

The 10th All India Conference of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) was convened at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, under the chairmanship of Chief Justice of India, Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai.

The conference brought together senior judicial officials and top government representatives, reflecting India’s ongoing commitment to strengthening administrative justice.

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Dr Jitendra Singh, presided over the function, while Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Law and Justice and MoS Parliamentary Affairs, Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal, attended as the guest of honour.

Attorney General for India, Shri R Venkataramani, also graced the occasion as a special guest.

CJI Highlights Need for Transparency & Accountability

Addressing the conference, Justice Gavai emphasised that the judiciary must operate on principles of justice and liberty rather than financial or personal gains.

He noted that while CAT has served as a critical platform for resolving service disputes over the past four decades, challenges remain, including rising pendency and frequent appeals to high courts.

CJI Gavai highlighted that CAT, established 41 years ago in Bombay, has successfully resolved approximately four lakh cases out of six lakh, achieving nearly 94% effectiveness.

The rise in pending cases from 44,000 in 2017 to over one lakh today illustrates that statistics alone cannot measure achievements.

He suggested the introduction of a filtering or certification mechanism to determine which cases are appeal-worthy.

Justice Gavai also emphasised the need for proper training of judicial and administrative members, proposing an integrated appointment process and clear eligibility standards to enhance transparency and public trust.

He called for the development of a national judicial data grid for administrative tribunals, enabling comparative and transparent monitoring of case filings, resolutions, and pendency.

Law Minister Advocates Responsible Appeal Filing

Speaking at the conference, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal urged departments to reconsider indiscriminate appeals, noting that routine filings often stem from initial errors in departmental notings and become unnecessary after the concerned official retires.

Justice Gavai used a poignant metaphor to illustrate the judiciary’s ethos, stating that judges should ‘live for justice, not wealth’, and likening judges and lawyers to the two wings of a golden bird named Justice. He urged judges to exercise their judicial powers with humility and responsibility.

The conference underscored the importance of strengthening administrative justice, fostering judicial accountability, and modernising tribunal processes to better serve the public.

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