Curtailing Unnecessary Appeals: Law Minister Urges Government Departments

Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal emphasized the need to curb the practice among government departments of challenging court orders unnecessarily. He pointed out that appeals are sometimes filed to protect officers from accountability, despite sound judgments. The use of technology in tribunals was highlighted to facilitate justice delivery.

Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal has called on government departments to curb the tendency to challenge court orders unnecessarily. Speaking at the Central Administrative Tribunal conference, Meghwal said appeals are sometimes pursued to protect officials, even when the courts have delivered sound judgments.

The Minister noted that many departments consider filing appeals as a means of deflecting responsibility, particularly when judgments call their decisions into question. He regularly receives files from central departments planning to appeal against strong court orders.

Meghwal also urged the Central Administrative Tribunal to adopt technology like e-filing and virtual hearings to overcome geographical barriers in justice delivery and praised the tribunal for reducing the case load on superior courts.