NEW DELHI: The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has been urged to speed up the resolution of service-related cases and reduce the burden on higher courts through improved case management and adoption of next-generation technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI).
Speaking at the 10th All India Conference of CAT at Bharat Mandapam, both Chief Justice of India, Justice B.R. Gavai, and Union Minister of State for Science and Technology and PMO, Dr. Jitendra Singh, stressed the need to avoid unnecessary appeals in High Courts.
Justice Gavai suggested that government departments set up nodal offices to review cases before pursuing litigation. He also proposed using AI to categorise cases and translate judgments into multiple languages, alongside creating a National Database for Tribunals.
CAT, established in 1985 under Article 323-A of the Constitution, was intended to provide speedy and cost-effective justice for government employees and pensioners but has often faced delays and avoidable appeals in higher courts, limiting finality at the tribunal level.
Union Minister Dr. Singh said that with all vacancies now filled, the tribunal can function at full strength. He highlighted existing steps such as e-filing, digital record-keeping and virtual hearings, and suggested future use of AI in case management to improve consistency and reduce pendency.
The minister also proposed benchmarking CAT benches on disposal rates, pendency reduction, technology utilisation and litigant satisfaction to encourage best practices and improve transparency. He noted that infrastructure and manpower are being strengthened across tribunal benches.
Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal agreed that while CAT judgments are generally commendable, repeated appeals often delay justice, and stressed that digital case management and transparency are crucial for reform.
Attorney General R. Venkataramani called for high-quality appointments, workshops and capacity-building measures to further strengthen the tribunal.
