The Supreme Court on Thursday told the Assam Government to include retired bureaucrats, not below the rank of secretary and additional secretary and having judicial experience, for appointment as members of 200 additional foreigners tribunals which will be set up in the State.
A vacation Bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Aniruddha Bose said the State will ensure that 200 additional foreigners tribunals are functional by September 1 this year. The State Government informed the Bench that at present, 79 such tribunals are already functional.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for Assam, told the Bench that a meeting was held on May 24 in connection with selection of members and staffs for the proposed additional tribunals. He said though there is a need for setting up 1,000 more foreigners tribunals in Assam, 200 such tribunals will be set up in the first phase.
Mehta said following the May 24 meeting, a letter has been addressed on May 29 to the registrar judicial of the Gauhati High Court with regard to the steps to be taken for appointment of members of the 200 tribunals.
He said the letter also indicates the qualification and condition of service of the members to be appointed.
The Bench was informed that retired judicial officers of district courts, advocates not above the age of 35 years with at least seven year practice and retired IAS officers can apply for the post of members of the tribunals. After conducting interviews, the result is scheduled to be declared by August 20.
“How a retired civil servant will be there in a quasi judicial tribunal? How retired IAS officers will do this?,” the Bench sought to know. Mehta responded that retired IAS officers of secretary or additional secretary rank can be appointed as members of these tribunals as they get experience of conducting quasi judicial function.
He said they may not get requisite numbers of retired judicial officers of district courts and advocates, below the age of 35 years and having at least seven years practice, for appointment in the foreigners tribunals and the State has proposed this after consulting the High Court.
