The Supreme Court on Friday extended the tenure of a judicial member and administrative member each until fresh appointments are made to the Kolkata bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT).
A bench of justices D.Y. Chandrachud and Hima Kohli was informed by additional solicitor general Balbir Singh that a proposal for the appointment of 17 administrative members across India has been submitted to the appointments committee of the cabinet and the approval is expected within two weeks.
Singh told the bench out of the sanctioned strength of the four members in CAT, two are judicial members while two are administrative members.
“The term of office of one judicial member Bidisha Banerjee expired on September 14, while the term of one administrative member Dr Nandita Chatterjee has been extended till September 29.
“ASG states that a proposal for appointment of 17 administrative members pan India has been submitted to the appointments committee of the cabinet and the approval is expected within two weeks. We direct that subject to availability of the judicial member and administrative member their terms shall be extended till further orders until fresh appointments are made,” the court said.
The top court had earlier expressed concern over vacancies in judicial and administrative posts in CAT benches spread across the country.
The apex court was hearing a plea by the CAT Bar Association, Kolkata, seeking a stay on retirements of existing members to ensure unhindered functioning of the benches.