Dr Jitendra says both benches will be fully functional
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 18: With Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) bench in Srinagar to be made functional shortly, Jammu and Kashmir will become the only UT in the country to have two CAT benches.
Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Officer (PMO), Incharge Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) Dr Jitendra Singh said the second CAT bench will also be made functional shortly taking number of CAT benches, which adjudicates service matters of Central Government employees, to two in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Earlier, the CAT bench at Chandigarh had jurisdiction over Jammu and Kashmir. However, first CAT bench was earlier set up in Jammu and now the second bench will come up in Srinagar shortly.
Dr Jitendra Singh said he will be visiting Srinagar to monitor early functioning of the CAT bench.
The process for appointments in the second CAT bench is on.
The CAT’s bench in Jammu will have its jurisdiction over the districts of Doda, Jammu, Kathua, Kishtwar, Reasi, Poonch, Rajouri, Ramban, Samba, Udhampur in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and Leh district in the Union Territory of Ladakh, an order issued by the DoPT said.
Its Srinagar bench will have under it districts of Srinagar, Anantnag, Bandipora, Baramulla, Budgam, Ganderbal, Kulgam, Kupwara, Pulwama, Shopian in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and Kargil district in the Union Territory of Ladakh, said the order.
With two CAT benches, Jammu and Kashmir will be the only UT/State in the country to have two benches.
There are some States and Union Territories which have no CAT bench while most of the States have single CAT bench.
Earlier, the Jammu and Kashmir employees had to approach Chandigarh bench of the CAT for their service matters.
Dr Jitendra Singh said the Government decision to have two CAT benches in Jammu and Kashmir—one each in Jammu and Srinagar, the capital cities of the Union Territory, will help the employees a lot.
The employees of Kashmir division and Kargil district of Ladakh can approach Srinagar bench of the CAT while the employees of Jammu region and Leh district of Ladakh can approach the Jammu bench, the officials said.
“Once the appointment process for the second bench is fully completed, the bench will be functional,” they added.
Follow our WhatsApp channel