SC seeks data on vacancies in tribunals

The Supreme Court on Monday asked the central government to furnish data pertaining to vacancies in various tribunals. A bench comprising justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh directed the Centre to furnish data on the status of appointments and selection process of judicial, technical, accounting, administrative members of all tribunals.

The bench also suggested that additional circuit benches of the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) could be set up in places such as Shimla in Himachal Pradesh to ease the tribunal's workload.

The development took place during the resumed hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) relating to the issue of vacancies in the tribunals.


The bench also asked senior advocate Vikas Singh and other members of the bar to give suggestions to the attorney general of India for improving the working conditions of tribunals, including an idea to be explored regarding constituting circuit benches so as to provide easy access to justice.

In response, attorney general R Venkataramani said that such administrative matters could be dealt with by the AFT chairman. The Centre is also working to fill pending vacancies, the AG added.

"We have impressed upon the attorney general to furnish current status of different types of vacancies in different tribunals and details of ongoing selection process and status of stages of the process," the bench said in its order.

The bench further ordered that the suggestions from members of the bar to the attorney general be given within four weeks and posted the matter for resumed hearing after six weeks.