JAMMU, September 20—The Jammu bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has demonstrated an exceptional rate of service case disposal, exceeding expectations and ranking among the highest nationally, Union Minister Jitendra Singh announced on Sunday.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that Minister Singh made these remarks while inaugurating the new Office-and-Court Complex for the CAT Jammu bench at Bahu Plaza. He stated that the high disposal rates at both the Jammu and Srinagar CAT benches signify the Tribunal’s enhanced capacity to deliver swift and accessible justice in service-related matters.
Highlighting the Tribunal’s overall achievements, Singh noted that from its establishment in 1985 up to June 30, 2026, CAT has processed a total of 10,01,177 cases across all its benches nationwide. Of these, 9,32,723 cases have been resolved, reflecting an overall disposal rate of approximately 93.16 per cent.
The performance of the CAT benches in Jammu and Srinagar is particularly noteworthy, considering the significant volume of cases transferred from the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir High Court, in addition to the new cases instituted directly before the Tribunal. As of June 30 this year, the benches had received 20,984 cases transferred from the High Court and 20,405 fresh cases. Consequently, 18,392 of the transferred cases and 13,952 of the fresh cases have been disposed of, according to the Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office.
Singh further elaborated on the government’s continuous efforts to bolster the institutional framework of the CAT. The aim is to ensure that the facilities and technological advancements available to constitutional courts are increasingly integrated within the Tribunal system. He pointed to the experiences in Jammu and Srinagar as evidence that a combination of institutional capacity, technology, infrastructure, and collaboration among all stakeholders can significantly improve the delivery of administrative justice.
The Jammu bench, which began with a single Division bench, was subsequently augmented with another Division bench to manage the growing workload and expedite the resolution of employee grievances. It currently comprises two judicial members and two administrative members.
The Union Minister also drew attention to the low rate of appeals filed against judgments from the CAT Jammu bench before the Jammu and Kashmir High Court. He reported that only about 8 per cent of cases from the Jammu bench have been escalated for appeal to the High Court. While acknowledging the statutory provision for challenging CAT judgments, Singh suggested that frequent or unnecessary further litigation can prolong the justice process and hinder the objective of swift resolution.
He expressed that the ideal scenario would be one where no appeals are necessary. The minister also underscored the expanding use of technology to enhance access to justice and provide greater convenience for litigants and legal professionals. The CAT has progressively implemented various digital services, including the Advance Case Information System (ACIS), e-filing, video conferencing, online display boards, SMS and email alerts, online court fee payments, mobile access to case information, online certified copies, advanced search functionalities, e-mentioning, and e-listing.
Video conferencing, Singh highlighted, proved especially crucial during the COVID-19 pandemic, enabling the Jammu bench to maintain its operational capacity amidst challenging circumstances. The Tribunal has also been actively digitizing judicial records and introducing e-Court and paperless court facilities.
The Chenab Times News Desk