The specialised tribunal that adjudicates disputes relating to the recruitment and conditions of service of persons appointed to public services under the Union.
- Constitutional backing comes from Article 323A (added by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976); the Tribunal itself was established under the Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985.
- It began functioning in 1985 with a Principal Bench at New Delhi and several Benches across the country.
- It is a multi-member body with judicial and administrative members; it is not bound by the rigid procedure of the Code of Civil Procedure and follows principles of natural justice.
- In the L. Chandra Kumar case (1997) the Supreme Court held that appeals from CAT lie to the relevant High Court (Division Bench), so the High Court's power of judicial review cannot be ousted.
- Armed forces personnel are excluded from CAT; their service matters go to the Armed Forces Tribunal under a separate 2007 Act.
Article 323A, the 1985 Act, the L. Chandra Kumar ruling and the exclusion of armed forces are standard tribunal facts, relevant to service disputes of central personnel.
CAT covers central civil services, not armed forces (which go to the Armed Forces Tribunal); after L. Chandra Kumar (1997), appeals go to the High Court first, not directly to the Supreme Court; Article 323A covers service tribunals, Article 323B covers other matters.
Art 323A and the 1985 Act tribunal for central service disputes; appeals go to the High Court after L. Chandra Kumar (1997).