Dress Code for Judges of CAT

Dress Code for Judges of CAT

No controversy over attire of Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) Judges/Members has been brought to the notice of Government.


Rule 32 of the Central Administrative Tribunal (Procedure) Rules,1987 provides as follows:

The dress for the Members of the Tribunal (including Chairman and Vice-Chairman) and Members of the staff of the Tribunal shall be such as the Chairman may specify.

The Hon’ble Chairman, vide order No. 10/1/1991 dated December 18, 1991, in exercise of the powers conferred by above Rule 32 of the Central Administrative Tribunal (Procedure) Rules, 1987 had prescribed the following dress code for the Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Members

(i) If a male: Judges gown, close collared or open collared coat in black colour, white shirt with collar bands, white black striped trousers.

(ii) If a female: Judges gown black coat over white saree or any other long dress (upto the ankle) with white collar bands.

Rule 33 of the Central Administrative Tribunal (Procedure) Rules, 1987 prescribes that a legal practitioner or, as the case may be, a Presenting Officer shall appear before the Tribunal in his professional dress, if any, and if there is no such dress,

(i) If a male, in a closed, collared coat and trousers or in a lounge suit;

(ii) If a female, in a saree or any other customary dress of a sober colour.

This was stated by the Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and Minister of State in Prime Minister’s office Dr. Jitendra Singh in a written reply to a question by Shri Majeed Memon in the Rajya Sabha today

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Amendments in Whistle Blowers Protection Act

The Whistle Blowers Protection Bill, 2011 was passed by the Lok Sabha on the 27th of December, 2011 and was transmitted to the Rajya Sabha. Subsequently, it was noticed that some of the provisions in the Bill needed a relook with a view to strengthening the safeguards against disclosures which may prejudicially affect the sovereignty and integrity of the country, security of the State, etc. Accordingly, notices for certain official amendments were given to Rajya Sabha Secretariat from time to time. The Bill was finally taken up for consideration and passing on 21st February, 2014. However, as the Bill was taken up on the last day of the last Session of the 15th Lok Sabha, the official amendments which had been given notice of, were not moved during consideration and passing of the Bill on the said date.

The Bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha without any amendments (i.e., in the same form as passed by the Lok Sabha) on 21st February, 2014. The Bill has received the assent of the President on 9th May, 2014 and has become the Whistle Blowers Protection Act, 2011 (No. 17 of 2014). In view of this, the Whistle Blowers Protection Act, 2011 requires some amendments (aimed at safeguarding against disclosures affecting sovereignty and integrity of India, Security of the State, etc), before it is brought into force. A draft Note for the Cabinet has been referred to the Ministry of Law and Justice (Legislative Department) with a request to provide a draft of the amendment Bill in this regard.

This was stated by the Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and Minister of State in Prime Minister’s office Dr. Jitendra Singh in a written reply to a question by Dr. Pradeep Kumar Balmuchu in the Rajya Sabha today

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Cadre Management in the CSS

The Department of Personnel & Training has taken various measures to fill up the total vacancies of 2633 in Assistants’ Grade and 478 in Section Officers’ Grade in all the participating Ministries and Departments of Central Secretariat Service, existing as on 1st January, 2015.

Around 1250 of the 2633 vacancies in the Assistants’ Grade have been filled up on an adhoc basis in February, 2015 after successful conclusion of the litigation concerning seniority list of Upper Division Clerks in the High Court of Delhi on 21st January, 2015.

To fill up the vacancies in the Section Officers’ Grade (seniority quota), zones for promotion have been issued for Select Lists upto 2014. Limited Departmental Competitive Examination for Section Officers’ Grade for the year 2014 has also been held for which 333 vacancies have been reported to Union Public Service Commission.

The shortfall in the Assistants’ Grade occurred as the Combined Graduate Level Examination (CGLE) 2013 had to be re-conducted by Staff Selection Commission (SSC) on the directions of Hon’ble Central Administrative Tribunal, Principal Bench, New Delhi. 1267 direct recruitment quota vacancies for the year 2013 and 756 (tentative) vacancies for the year 2014 have been reported to SSC for filling up through CGLEs. Final results of CGLEs 2013 and 2014 have not yet been declared.

This was stated by the Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and Minister of State in Prime Minister’s office Dr. Jitendra Singh in a written reply to a question by Dr. K.V.P. Ramachandra Rao in the Rajya Sabha today

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Rotation of CSS Officers

The revised rotational transfer policy for Central Secretariat Service is implemented on pilot basis since 17.2.2015. Accordingly, the details of officers whose posting on their promotion and on repatriation from deputation etc. decided on the basis of the revised policy are as under:

(i) On promotion from Under Secretary to Deputy Secretary grade: 17 officers

(ii) On repatriation from deputation, long leave etc. in the grade of Under Secretary: 2 officers

The revised rotational transfer policy prescribes a cut-off date of 1st July of the calendar year for calculation of tenure for rotation. However, as on 31.1.2015, there are 26 officers of CSS in the designations of Deputy Secretary, Director [including JS (insitu)] who have rendered more than 5 years in the current Ministry/Department.

This was stated by the Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and Minister of State in Prime Minister’s office Dr. Jitendra Singh in a written reply to a question by Dr. K.V.P. Ramachandra Rao in the Rajya Sabha today

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No Curtailing of Public Holidays

As per the existing policy, the Central Government Administrative Offices observe up to 17 holidays in a year on specified occasions which consist of 3 National Holidays (on 26th January, 15th August and 2nd October) and 14 other holidays to celebrate festivals of different regions/religion in a diverse country like India.

At present there is no proposal under consideration of the Government to curtail the public holidays for government employees.

This was stated by the Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and Minister of State in Prime Minister’s office Dr. Jitendra Singh in a written reply to a question by Shri S. Thangavelu in the Rajya Sabha today.