PM Urged to Fill Vacancies in CESTAT - Bar Against Extension of Service to CESTAT Member
THE Bar Association has submitted a representation to the Prime Minister of India against granting extension to a Technical Member of CESTAT who is to retire shortly.
Bar Association feels that such extension to individual Member on selective basis would erode the independence of the Tribunal and shake public confidence in the impartiality of the CESTAT. The Association strongly opposes grant of extension/re-appointment of the Member as it is contrary to statutory provisions and against public interest.
The Association notes that in the history of CESTAT, not a single extension has ever been given to any Member and the present proposal clearly shows favouritism.
While DDT takes no stand on this issue, it is heartening to know that there are people who are willing to do this excruciatingly difficult job with hardly any facilities.
In 2007, before Justice Abichandani retired as President of CESTAT, there was a strong rumour that he was getting an extension. I met him a couple of months before his retirement and told him that the rumour was he was trying for an extension. He called his wife and said, "Lakshmi, am I getting an extension in CESTAT?".
She told me, "he had had enough here, let him leave this and practice in the Supreme Court". (which he later did).