Guwahati’s legal landscape witnessed a significant shift on Saturday as Union Minister Jitendra Singh inaugurated the long-awaited court-cum-office complex for the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT). The inauguration of the dedicated facility marks a culmination of a nearly four-decade-long journey for the Guwahati bench, which was established in 1985 but had been operating from rented premises for all these years. This development, according to the Minister, is not just a logistical improvement but a powerful symbol of the transformative change the Northeast has experienced under the Narendra Modi government.
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, Singh, who holds the portfolios for Personnel and the Prime Minister’s Office, underscored the tribunal’s founding vision of providing accessible and swift justice to government employees. He acknowledged the decades of operational challenges and case backlogs that plagued the CAT. He pointed out that while the Guwahati bench is one of the oldest in the country, it had to function out of rented accommodations for 40 years, a chapter that has now finally closed with the opening of this new complex.
The Minister lauded the tribunal’s recent performance, stating that its efficiency has been exemplary in the last decade. He revealed that out of the over 8.88 lakh cases disposed of since the bench’s inception, an impressive 2.54 lakh cases were cleared in the last ten years alone. Singh termed this an “era of delivery,” crediting the success to the government’s focus on technological integration and operational streamlining. He highlighted how the adoption of e-filing, video conferencing, digital records, and online payments not only modernised the tribunal but also ensured continuity of justice even during the pandemic.
However, Singh’s address was also a call for introspection. He raised a pertinent question for the legal fraternity: “If every decision ends up back in the high court, we need to ask whether something is amiss.” He urged all stakeholders to collaboratively work towards reinforcing the credibility and original mandate of the CAT. The new complex, with its enhanced infrastructure and dedicated space, is expected to provide a much-needed boost to the tribunal’s ability to dispense prompt administrative justice across the region, cementing its role as a cornerstone of good governance in the Northeast.