The Supreme Court on Monday inquired into the feasibility of relocating the Jammu and Kashmir Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) to the old high court building in Jammu. The query was directed to the Centre during a hearing presided over by Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh, focusing on the logistical and infrastructural challenges faced by the tribunal.
During the proceedings, the additional solicitor general Aishwarya Bhati was asked to provide a timeline for the construction of the new high court building in Jammu, a project for which land has already been allocated. Bhati responded by proposing interim measures, suggesting that the CAT, Jammu, could temporarily relocate to rented accommodations while awaiting the completion of the new premises.
The bench emphasized the importance of ensuring adequate staffing for the tribunal, directing the Centre to ensure sufficient personnel are provided once the tribunal moves to the rented location. This directive comes in the context of earlier concerns expressed by the Supreme Court about the employment of outsourced staff in judicial and quasi-judicial bodies, advocating instead for permanent staffing solutions.
The need for a permanent building for the Jammu and Kashmir CAT was strongly voiced by the Supreme Court on January 2, highlighting the tribunal’s crucial role and the necessity for stable and adequate facilities to support its functions. Previously, the Centre had indicated that a building had been rented for the CAT in Jammu and that staffing would be managed through outsourcing.
In August of the previous year, the Supreme Court had noted significant infrastructural deficiencies at the CAT in Jammu and had directed the tribunal’s judicial member to submit a status report detailing the essential requirements for uninterrupted day-to-day operations. The functioning of the tribunal was reported to be adversely impacted by a lack of adequate support staff.
