ITAT Needs a President - Any High Court Judge Interested?
THE post of the President of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal - the oldest and largest Tribunal in India is lying vacant for more than three years and now the Law Ministry has decided to initiate the process of appointment of a President. They have written to all the High Court Registrars General to send the names of sitting or retired judges of the High Courts with at least seven years service as a judge and who are willing to be considered for the post.
No sitting judge of a High Court would normally like to become President of the Tribunal for the only benefit is three years of additional service (unless he is going to retire in a couple of months). In fact a serving President of the Tribunal had joined a High Court as a junior judge - and with three years of service foregone.
The letter from the Law Ministry is dated 29th August and they want the High Courts to send the names by 13th September by which time the letter might not have even reached all the Registrars. If they are serious about appointing a High Court Judge, they should give wide publicity to this and give enough time. Maybe the last date should be extended by a month.