Supreme Court seeks data from Union on Tribunal vacancies, suggests Circuit Benches for AFT

The Supreme Court in the case Madras Bar Association Versus Union Of India And Anr. observed and has asked the Union of India to collate and furnish data on the status of appointments and selection process of judicial/technical/accounting/administrative members of Tribunals across the country.

The bench comprising of Justice Surya Kant and Justice N Kotiswar Singh was hearing the present matter.

The bench in the case observed and has passed the order wherein the Public Interest Litigation, PIL is filed by the Madras Bar Association, which was listed along with a petition raising the issue of vacancies, etc. in the Armed Forces Tribunal, Chandigarh.

The counsel, Attorney General for India was asked to furnish, 'the current status of vacancies in different tribunals and the status and stages of the ongoing selection process, if any'.

The court also asked the Senior Advocate Vikas Singh and other members of the Bar to give suggestions to the AG 'for improving the working conditions of Tribunals, which includes an idea to be explored regarding constituting Circuit Benches so as to provide easy access to justice'.