The CAT was established under Article 323A and Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985 to provide speedy and specialized justice in service matters of Central Government employees.
Objectives of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT)
Speedy Justice
Reduce Burden on Courts
Specialized Adjudication
Ensure Administrative Fairness – Protect employees from arbitrary, unjust, or discriminatory administrative actions.
Accessible and Affordable Justice
Maintain consistency and coherence in decisions across departments.
Promote Administrative Accountability
Realize Article 39A by making justice accessible to all employees.
CAT as Independent Judicial Authority
Exclusive Jurisdiction-
CAT adjudicates disputes on recruitment, promotion, transfer, service conditions, and disciplinary actions of Central employees.
Its jurisdiction excludes ordinary civil courts in service matters.
Powers of a Civil Court, including summoning witnesses, receiving evidence, and delivering binding orders.
Though under the DoPT for administrative purposes, CAT functions judicially independent in decision-making.
Judicial Review Authority- CAT can strike down administrative actions violating Articles 14, 16, or 21. Eg- It has quashed arbitrary transfer orders and disciplinary actions in several cases.
Following L. Chandra Kumar v. Union of India (1997), CAT decisions are subject to judicial review by High Courts under Articles 226/227, ensuring accountability.
CAT, in line with Article 39A, must ensure administrative justice while upholding judicial independence and judicial review as constitutional safeguards.