The Supreme Court on Wednesday ticked off the Centre for failing to fill up posts of National Tribunals’ heads lying vacant despite the Chief Justice of India having recommended names for appointment months ago.
Hearing a bunch of petitions challenging the setting up of a National Company law Tribunal and the legal provisions governing the removal of its chairman and members, the Bench headed by Justice TS Thakur asked the Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi to find out how several Tribunals in the country remained headless despite the recommendation having gone from the office of Chief Justice of India several months back.
Rohatgi informed the Court that he will take up the matter with the Government. Regarding the challenge against the Company law Tribunal, the bench, also comprising Justices RF Nariman and PC Pant, referred the matter to the Chief Justice of India for hearing by a Constitution Bench.
What prompted the court to do so was a provision contained in the Company law Tribunal provisions that gave Centre power to suspend the chair and members of NClT and National Company law Appellate Tribunal, headed by SC and High Court judges