SC seeks Centre’s repl over tribunal vacancie

Terming non-filling of vacancies at various tribunals a “very sorry state of affairs”, the Supreme Court Friday asked the Centre to apprise it within ten days about the steps taken and said it suspects “some lobbies have been working” in this regard.

“We must know a clear stand on continuation of tribunals or closing of tribunals. It appears that bureaucracy does not want these tribunals,” said a bench bench comprising Chief Justice N V Ramana and Justice Surya Kant.

The bench referred to the unfilled posts of judicial and non-judicial members at various tribunals across the country such as the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFTS) and NGT and said that it may summon the “top officials” to give reasons for not appointing peoples in these quasi-judicial bodies.

“We expect in a week’s time you will take a call and apprise us. Otherwise we are very serious, we are going to force the top officers to appear and give reasons. Please do not invite such a situation,” the bench observed.

The top court, in a hearing conducted through video conferencing, also issued a notice on a PIL filed by lawyer and activist Amit Sahni seeking stitution of National Regional GST Tribunal.

“Our Registry has prov the information that as man 15 tribunals have been crea There are no chairpersons, Ramana observed, adding in the National Company Tribunal, there are vacanci judicial and technical mem

The CJI said that he and tice Surya Kant are both m bers of the selection panel had recommended name May 2020.

The bench said many p are vacant in AFT, NGT Railways Claim Tribunal an steps seem to be taken to these vacancies and termed the “very sorry state of affa

“This is the scenario in bunals. We do not know w the stand of the Governme You have to get a respons they want to continue these bunals,” the bench said.