The Hindu Business Line : Changes to Administrative Tribunals Act okayed

THE Union Cabinet on Thursday gave its approval for amendments to the Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985 for deletion of tribunals' power to punish for contempt provided in Section 17 of that Act.

"A Bill will be introduced in the ensuing session of Parliament for this purpose," the Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting, Mr Jaipal Reddy, told reporters after the Cabinet meeting.

He highlighted that the power of a court to punish for contempt of itself is limited to the Supreme Court and the High Court as well as to Parliament and State Legislatures and such power is not enjoyed by any other court, tribunal or authority.

However, the Central Administrative Tribunal will be able to invoke power to punish for contempt through the concerned High Court, in accordance with the Contempt of Courts Act 1971.

Mr Reddy said the question of giving powers to punish for contempt to the tribunals was considered by the National Commission to review the working of the Constitution and the Commission has not favoured the conferring of such powers on the Tribunals.

There are certain tribunals like Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal that have not been given power to punish for contempt. The power to punish for contempt of such tribunals is exercised by the High Court as well as the Supreme Court, he said.

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