In New Delhi, Chief Justice of India BR Gavai shared his thoughts on how administrative tribunals work in India during the 10th All India Conference of the Central Administrative Tribunal on Saturday.
Gavai explained that these tribunals hold a special spot between the government’s executive branch and the judiciary. Unlike regular courts, many tribunal members come from administrative services, while others bring judicial experience. “Administrative tribunals are unlike courts in that they occupy a unique space between the executive and the judiciary. Many of the members come from the administrative services, while others come from the judiciary,” he said.
He pointed out the strengths of this mix: it combines sharp legal skills with practical admin know-how. But Gavai stressed the need for better training. Members from administrative backgrounds often need help with legal reasoning, and he noticed they sometimes hesitate to issue rulings against the government. “As a judge, I have personally noticed that judges with an administration background do not forget they are from administration and are averse to passing orders which are against the government,” Gavai added.
To bridge the gap between admin and judiciary, he suggested more workshops and training programs run by judicial experts. These could sharpen tribunal performance and make them even more effective.
Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal kicked off the conference by focusing on its goals. He said it would dive into the Central Administrative Tribunal’s (CAT) daily operations and tackle big challenges, like how AI and tech shifts affect it. “This is the 10th conference of CAT. Discussions on the work of CAT take place here… If any challenge like AI and technology change arises, how we address that challenge and turn disaster into opportunity, there will be contemplation, reflection, and deliberation here on this matter,” Meghwal noted.
For context, the CAT got its start on November 1, 1985, thanks to the Administrative Tribunals Act. It handles disputes over hiring and job conditions for people in public services tied to India’s central government, states, and local bodies.
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