Empty benches?
The dispensation of justice through CESTAT is limping with shortage of technical members all over the country. The Kolkota bench was irregular for the last 2-3 months and so is the fate of Delhi and Ahmedabad benches. The good work of Bangalore bench is lost sight of, since some of the members are frequently sent to other benches for disposals making their own bench pendency more. Justice delayed is justice denied. The very purpose of creating Tribunals is
lost if the cases are kept pending for years together. Even the government is put to loss, as their dear revenue is locked up in appeals.
If the government cannot improve the situation immediately by recruiting Technical Members, at least they should allow the cases to be heard by the benches showing good disposals by the choice of the respective appellants. If the Mumbai bench can take up some cases of Ahmedabad bench, there will be some disposals. Same can be the case with Kolkata cases to be heard at Chennai or Bangalore so that the pendency can be reduced. Circuit benches are not serving the desired purpose since the disposals vis-a-vis the huge paraphernalia involved is proving it to be uneconomical.
With the financial year end fast approaching, the life of the assessee- appellants is going to be miserable since department would build pressure for collection of arrears not covered by orders of stay.