Principal bench of CAT cannot bypass territorial limits: Allahabad HC seeks Centre’s response

The Allahabad High Court has raised serious concerns over the practice of the Principal Bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), New Delhi, directly entertaining cases that fall within the territorial jurisdiction of the Allahabad Bench. In a recent order, Justice Ajit Kumar has sought a response from the Central Government on this issue.

The Court was hearing a writ petition filed by Rajesh Pratap Singh, wherein it noted that the Chairman of the Principal Bench appears to have misconstrued the scope of powers conferred under Section 25 of the Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985. The provision allows for the transfer of cases between benches, but the court observed that it is being used to entertain fresh matters directly at the Delhi Bench merely on the ground of geographical proximity, particularly for cases arising from districts in western Uttar Pradesh.

Justice Kumar noted that such an interpretation effectively bypasses the jurisdiction of the Allahabad Bench and may undermine the intent behind creating region-specific benches of the tribunal. "If the distance from New Delhi becomes the basis for assuming jurisdiction, it would render the territorial jurisdiction of benches like Allahabad redundant,” the court remarked. Highlighting the repercussions of this trend, the court noted that lawyers practising before the Allahabad CAT Bench have abstained from work, protesting that fresh petitions are increasingly being taken up in Delhi without regard to territorial limits.

The High Court emphasised that Section 25 of the Act was never intended to allow routine circumvention of established territorial jurisdictions. It held that the repeated assumption of jurisdiction by the Principal Bench on such grounds appears inconsistent with the statutory scheme and purpose of the Act.

The respondents, including the Union Government, have been directed to file their counter-affidavits within four weeks. The matter has been listed for further hearing on July 17.