Answer: 

Introduction:

The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) was established under the Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985, as a quasi-judicial body aimed at providing a specialized forum for the redressal of grievances and complaints by or against central government employees.

Body:

Over the years, CAT has evolved into an independent judicial authority that exercises its powers to ensure the principles of natural justice, transparency, and fairness are upheld in its proceedings.

CAT has gained independence and impartiality over the years due to factors such as:

• Appointment and tenure: Members of CAT, including the Chairman and Vice-Chairman, are appointed by the President of India, ensuring a degree of independence from the executive. Their tenure is fixed, and they can only be removed on specific grounds, providing them with security of tenure and independence in decision-making.
• Nature of proceedings: CAT follows the principles of natural justice and conducts its proceedings in a transparent and fair manner. It is not bound by the strict rules of evidence or procedure, allowing it to adopt a more flexible and just approach to dispute resolution.
• Right to appeal: Decisions of CAT can be appealed to the High Courts and further to the Supreme Court, ensuring a system of checks and balances that upholds the rule of law and the independence of the tribunal.

Some landmark judgments by CAT that demonstrate its exercise of power as an independent judicial authority include:

• The Ajit Singh Januja case (1997), where CAT ruled in favor of a group of employees who were denied promotions based on the government’s seniority rules, thereby asserting its authority to scrutinize government decisions on service matters.
• The Mohan Kumar Singhania case (1991), where CAT held that the compulsory retirement of a government employee without providing any reasons was arbitrary and violative of the principles of natural justice.

Conclusion:

By exercising its powers in a transparent, fair, and impartial manner, CAT plays a crucial role in upholding the rights of government employees and ensuring that the principles of natural justice are adhered to in the resolution of service-related disputes.