Service cases of central government employees, before CAT and beyond

Usually yes. Section 20 of the Administrative Tribunals Act expects you to use the departmental remedy first, such as a representation or an appeal, and wait up to six months for a decision. Where harm is about to happen, for example a transfer being carried out or a recovery starting this month, the tribunal can be approached at once with a request for interim relief.

One year from the final order under Section 21. If you made a representation and six months passed with no decision, the year is counted from the end of those six months. A late case is not closed for good: it needs a separate application explaining the delay, and the reasons have to be real.

Yes, it can stay a recovery while the case is pending. For Group C staff, pensioners and money paid more than five years before the recovery order, the Supreme Court has held that recovery is often not allowed at all, unless you gave a written undertaking when the pay was fixed.

Generally not. Staff of most public sector undertakings and banks, and personnel of the CRPF, BSF, CISF, ITBP and SSB, file a writ in the High Court. Members of the Army, Navy and Air Force go to the Armed Forces Tribunal. CAT covers central government staff and bodies notified under Section 14(2).

No. This is the website of B.K. Singh & Associates, a private firm of advocates. For official case status, cause lists and e-filing, use the tribunal's own website.