Additional CESTAT Benches - are they in making?
IN the wake of the New Year Circular dated 01/01/2013 and the avalanche that followed coupled with the High Court and the CESTAT decisions that gave the assessees a breather, we had in DDT 2078 reported the Karnataka High Court decision () directing the Union of India to constitute additional Benches of CESTAT for early disposal of the Stay applications. The High Court observed that for three Southern States, there is only one Bench and a large number of matters are pending consideration. If that is so, then Union Government must wake up to the clarion call and constitute any number of Benches as may be required for speedy disposal of the appeals, the High Court had observed. The High Court has also directed that a compliance report should be filed before the Registrar General before 03.06.2013, failing which the matter would be taken seriously.
We understand that the Government has asked for more time and the High Court has granted six months time.