Delhi High Court Reinforces CAT's Jurisdiction in Service Matters
Court Reiterates Position Established by Supreme Court, Directs Petitioner to Approach Central Administrative Tribunal
In a significant reaffirmation of judicial protocol, the Delhi High Court has dismissed a writ petition filed by Meenakshi Tyagi against the Union of India, directing her to approach the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) as the competent authority for service-related disputes. The judgment, delivered by Justice Prateek Jalan, underscores the jurisdictional boundaries set by the Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985, and reiterates the Supreme Court's directive that matters within the purview of the CAT cannot be initially filed in the High Court.
The case, identified as W.P.(C) 14987 of 2025, revolved around the petitioner's challenge to an order dated September 1, 2025, issued by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) concerning her service continuation. The High Court emphasized that AIIMS, being a notified entity, falls under the jurisdiction of the CAT as per Section 14 of the Administrative Tribunals Act.
Justice Jalan referred to the landmark Supreme Court judgment in L. Chandra Kumar v. Union of India, which unequivocally established that all service matters should first be addressed by the CAT, barring challenges to the vires of the Administrative Tribunals Act itself. The Court expressed concern over the persistent practice of filing writ petitions directly in the High Court, bypassing the Tribunal, despite clear judicial directives.
The judgment cited previous decisions, including Parikshit Grewal v. Union of India and Manish Kumar v. Union of India, to reinforce the position that such petitions must first be agitated before the Tribunal. Justice Jalan noted that this practice not only burdens the litigants with unnecessary efforts and resources but also places undue strain on the High Court.
In permitting the withdrawal of the writ petition, the Court granted liberty to the petitioner to approach the Tribunal and directed the Registry to forward a copy of the order to the Delhi High Court Bar Association. The judgment serves as a cautionary reminder to legal practitioners about adhering to established jurisdictional protocols, with the Court hinting at potential imposition of costs for non-compliance in future cases.
The dismissal of the petition aligns with the judiciary's ongoing efforts to uphold procedural integrity and ensure that service-related disputes are addressed by the appropriate forum, thereby streamlining judicial processes and safeguarding the interests of litigants.
Bottom Line:
Service Law - Jurisdiction of Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) - High Court cannot act as the court of first instance in matters falling within the jurisdiction of the CAT under Section 14 of the Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985, except where the vires of the said Act are challenged.
Statutory provision(s): Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985 Section 14, Article 141 of Constitution of India
Meenakshi Tyagi v. Union of India, (Delhi) : Law Finder Doc Id # 2786353
