Hyderabad: State governments are beginning to dismantle administrative tribunals which were constituted to deal with service matters of state employees quickly and in an inexpensive manner.
Among the latest is AP, which has decided not to constitute the tribunal, and Telangana state which did not constitute one. Odisha and Himachal Pradesh are the others to have abolished their state tribunals
State governments earlier had sought a tribunal which could speedily dispose of grievances of their employees. The tribunals were accordingly established under Article 323A of the Constitution.
One of the reasons to set up the tribunals was to reduce the mounting arrears in High Courts with regard to service disputes of the state employees which related to transfers, seniority, and promotions and appointments, etc.
The contention of the state governments is that either the employees or the administration is appealing adverse verdicts in the High Courts. This is defeating the purpose of setting up the tribunals.
Sources in the AP law department said that when other state governments requested the Centre to abolish the tribunals, it has asked them to forward the proposals to the High Court concerned. The AP government has accordingly moved the proposal for closure of the APAT. The tribunal has been defunct since July.
Former DGP M. Malakondaiah and former forest department official P. Mallikarjun Rao could not hold any proceedings after technical members were appointed by the President last month. As the government is shutting down the tribunal, it did not notify their names as judges of the tribunal.
