Madras HC Seeks Govt Responses on Establishing CAT Bench in Madurai

The Madras High Court has issued notices to both the union and state governments concerning a plea for the establishment of a regular or circuit bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) in Madurai.

A division bench, comprising Justices R. Suresh Kumar and G. Arul Murugan, was reviewing a petition filed by R. Venkatesan, the general secretary of the Bar Association of the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court.

The petitioner pointed out that the Madurai Bench serves 14 districts, and the state consumer commission has set up its bench in Madurai.

The plea also noted that in 2011, a petition was filed requesting a regular or circuit bench of the CAT in the Madurai Bench under Article 323 A of the Constitution. The court had directed the union government and the chairman of the CAT to consider the petition and issue an order before disposing of it. Following this, the authorities decided to establish a circuit bench of the tribunal, with the vice chairman of the CAT issuing a notification in 2012.

However, this notification was later challenged before the Principal Bench of the Madras High Court, which granted an interim stay. Consequently, the bar association sought to be impleaded as a respondent and filed a petition to vacate the stay.

Observing that there were vacancies in the principal seat of the tribunal, the Principal Bench disposed of the petition, stating that there was no question of constituting a circuit bench in Madurai.

The petitioner further submitted that the association filed another representation requesting the establishment of a circuit bench in Madurai, but it was not addressed. He argued that the union government must fill the vacancies in the CAT Chennai Bench and that, in the interest of the southern districts, a circuit bench in Madurai is necessary.