CESTAT Member Gets Relief from CAT against eviction from quarters
A newly joined Member of the CESTAT has been allotted a residential accommodation in Delhi by the Director of Estates of the Ministry of Urban Development.
Recently, on 5.3.2015, the Government had taken a decision that Chairman and Members of Quasi-judicial bodies (like CESTAT) shall not be eligible for residential accommodation from General Pool in Delhi. It has been decided to create exclusive accommodation for Chairman and Members of Quasi-judicial bodies in Commonwealth Games Village Complex, New Delhi.
Maybe ignorant of this new policy, the Directorate allotted a house to the CESTAT Member from the General Pool. They reacted sharply and quickly. On 4.11.2015 they cancelled his allotment and on 13.11.2015, they gave him eviction notice. For the mistake of the Directorate, they wanted to evict the Member from his legitimately allotted accommodation.
The aggrieved Member approached the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT). The CAT stayed the cancellation as well as eviction and posted the case for hearing on 7.1.2016.
On 7.1.2016, the Ministry was not prepared and the case is now adjourned to 10.2.2016.
This is the way, an Hon'ble Member of the Tribunal, whom we call Lordship, is treated by a Department of the Government. The might of the Government does not leave judges. If a Member of the Tribunal has to go round lawyers and courts to be allowed to stay in the house allotted to him, how can he peacefully discharge his duties as a Tribunal Member? This perhaps amounts to contempt of court on the part of the concerned babu in the Ministry of Urban Development.