#Central Administrative Tribunal

The tribunal ruled that denying disability family pension based on a conclusory medical opinion of employability violates Rule 54(6); authorities must evaluate the claimant's actual functional capacity to earn a livelihood. This safeguards disabled dependents from arbitrary termination of pension benefits.

The CAT set aside a charge memorandum lacking Finance Minister’s approval, ruling that only the Disciplinary Authority may sanction charge sheets under Rule 14 CCS (CCA) Rules, 1965. The holding confines disciplinary power to the authority, shielding senior revenue officials from ministerial sanction misuse.

The Cuttack Bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal ruled that service rendered in the Karnataka-Goa charge from 27 Sept 2012 to 3 Aug 2014 must be credited towards seniority for promotion to Senior Tax Assistant and Income Tax Inspector. This overturns the 1990 CBDT guideline that excluded such service after a compassionate inter-charge transfer, benefiting non-gazetted income-tax officers seeking promotion after moving between charges.

CAT ruled that a valid No-Objection Certificate obliges the railway to grant an immediate relieving order, barring discretionary refusal. The decision curtails administrative discretion in spouse-ground inter-railway transfers, requiring employees to be relieved within the NOC’s validity.

The Cuttack Bench of the CAT held that a candidate with 40 % visual loss meets the Category-I benchmark disability, setting aside UPSC’s rejection. The decision clarifies the visual-disability threshold for all Civil Services aspirants.

The CAT ruled that Delhi Police constables appointed on compassionate grounds may be transferred from the New Pension Scheme to the Old Pension Scheme when the recruitment process started before the OPS cut-off date, even if they joined after 1 January 2004. The tribunal held that laches and lack of prior notice do not defeat the entitlement. This benefits all compassionate-appointment employees seeking OPS benefits.

Railway employees appointed on compassionate grounds after 2004 can now claim benefits under the Old Pension Scheme, reversing earlier directives that denied them. This expands pension entitlements for senior staff hired under humanitarian considerations.

Kerala High Court held that Rule 32(6) of the Central Civil Services (Leave) Rules, 1972 is the sole route for regularising unauthorised absence, even after disciplinary penalties. The ruling clarifies that study leave cannot be granted retroactively to regularise such absences, impacting ESIC officers facing disciplinary actions.

The Allahabad High Court has extended the deadline for the Ministry of Defence to frame a compassionate appointment policy for families of deceased OFB employees by three months, deferring contempt proceedings to ensure compliance. This ruling reinforces the state’s non-negotiable welfare obligation toward dependents of deceased public sector workers, even after corporatization, and sets a precedent for timely implementation of judicial directives in administrative welfare matters.

The Andhra Pradesh High Court ruled that orders rejecting interim relief in service matters must provide reasons, as non-speaking orders violate natural justice. The court set aside a Central Administrative Tribunal order, reinforcing that disciplinary proceedings under CCS (CCA) Rules, 1965, require reasoned decisions to ensure fairness and transparency for government employees.

CAT Cuttack ruled that General Assistants in Doordarshan and All India Radio hold distinct promotional avenues separate from the LDC/UDC cadre, quashing erroneous promotion orders. The judgment reinforces that cadre-specific promotional rules must be adhered to, ensuring fair career progression for affected employees.

CAT Jammu rules that executive orders cannot override statutory recruitment rules to grant retrospective promotions, safeguarding the seniority rights of direct recruits. The judgment reinforces that promotions must align with prescribed rules, preventing arbitrary administrative actions that disrupt service hierarchies.

CAT Jammu rules that permanent absorption in a post mandating Public Service Commission selection cannot bypass statutory recruitment rules, even for employees with long temporary service. The judgment reinforces that lateral entry or absorption must comply with prescribed selection processes, impacting government hiring policies and service law compliance.

CAT Kolkata ruled that disciplinary proceedings under CCS (CCA) Rules cannot extend to alleged irregularities in external examinations, as these fall outside departmental jurisdiction. The tribunal quashed a major penalty charge sheet against a government employee for purportedly irregular candidature in the Bihar School Examination, reinforcing the boundaries of natural justice in service law.

CAT Kolkata quashes disciplinary proceedings against a retired Group 'A' officer, ruling that once the disciplinary authority accepts an inquiry report under CCS (CCA) Rules 1965, it cannot later issue a disagreement note. The decision reinforces natural justice principles, protecting government employees from arbitrary post-facto revisions in disciplinary actions.