Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal urges depts to stop filing appeals, even against sound judgments

Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on Saturday urged government departments to change the practice of routinely filing appeals even against sound judgements.

Meghwal's sentiments were echoed by his Cabinet colleague Union Minister Jitendra Singh, while sharing stage with Meghwal, at the 10th All India Conference of the Central Administrative Tribunal.Singh said there exists a "culture" where if an employee wins, the department appeals, and if the department wins, the employee goes to court. In a lighter vein, he quipped that he should not say much with judges present, "as they may get upset."

Speaking at the conference, Meghwal in presence of Chief Justice of India Justice BR Gavai said that this conference should not be mere formality rather it should be a platform for a dialogue between judiciary and administrative justice system.


Meghwal strongly disapproved of government departments' tendency of regularly filing appeals against sound judgements.

"When I go through the files, (at times) I found that judgement is very good, but departments insist we must appeal against the judgement...This approach needs to be changed. It is not appropriate," Meghwal said.

He further said in cases heard in CAT, if an order came against the official, then departments would insist on appealing against it so as to save the official. This is visible in day-to-day functioning of the government.

At the same event, Justice Gavai said judicial officers and judges as members of the tribunal, wield immense power therefore must carry it with the utmost humility and responsibility.

And the litigants appear before the tribunals or courts do so with the faith that they will receive justice, and the judgement wouldn't be coloured.