[Tribunal Vacancies] All recommendations by Search Committees acted upon Govt: Centre to Supreme Court

The Central government has told the Supreme Court that it has acted upon all the recommendations made by Search cum Selection Committees (SCSC) for appointment of members to various tribunals..In an affidavit filed by the Centre on Tuesday, it was submitted that no recommendations made by any of the SCSCs now remain pending with the government.Recommendations by SCSCs pertained to six tribunals - Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), Telecom Disputes and Settlement Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT), National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC), Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (APTEL) and Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT). "In all a total of 84 appointments were made to various tribunals during the years 2020 and 2021," the affidavit said..The recommendations and appointments made are:1. NCLT: SCSC recommended 11 Judicial members and 10 technical members, Centre appointed 8 judicial members and 10 technical members;2. TDSAT: SCSC made recommendations against two vacancies, Centre appointed one member. The recommendations for member 2 were either not accepted by appointments committee of cabinet (ACC) or were already appointed elsewhere;3. ITAT: SCSC recommended 16 judicial members and 12 accountant members. Centre appointed 6 judicial members and 7 accountant members;4. NCDRC: SCSC recommended 4 judicial members and 2 technical members. Centre appointed 2 judicial members and 2 technical members5. APTEL: SCSC recommended 1 technical member, centre appointed the same6. AFT: SCSC recommended 8 judicial members and 8 technical members. Centre appointed 6 judicial members. Prior to this 5 administrative members had been appointed..For the current vacancies, the government has stated that SCSCs have to make fresh recommendations for Centre to consider and make appointments. .The affidavit was filed after a three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India NV Ramana said that the government was emasculating tribunals by not making timely appointments.The Court had also taken exception to the fact the Centre repeatedly introduced laws to affect the service conditions of tribunal members in violation of the Supreme Court judgments in a series of Madras Bar Association cases."It is clear that you don't want to respect the judgments of this court. Now we have the option to stay the Tribunal Reforms Act or close down tribunals or we ourselves appoint the people or the next option is initiate contempt of courts act. These are 3 options," the Court had said while giving ultimatum to the Centre to clear the vacancies.Subsequently, the Centre had cleared appointment of 18 members to the NCLT, 13 to the ITAT and 6 to the AFT..[Read Affidavit]