CAT urged to improve its Efficiency Propasals to Amend CAT Act under Cosideration says Narayansamy.

   Union Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Shri V Narayansamy said that there is an urgent need to strengthen Central Administrative Tribunal( CAT) and make it more effective. Speaking as Special Guest at the daylong All India Conference of the members of Central Administrative Tribunal here today he said to streamline the functioning of Administrative Tribunals, a proposal to amend Administrative Tribunal Act 1985 is under active consideration of the Government. The Minister said one of the main amendments proposed is to authorize Chairman of the Administrative Tribunals to delegate his powers regarding Transfer petitions. The Bill was referred to the Department related Parliament Standing Committee and the Committee has submitted its report on the proposed amendments. He also informed the conference that another proposal to bring about uniformity of tenure, service conditions etc. of the members of all judicial tribunals is under consideration of the Government. “To evolve a consensus on these issues, an Inter Ministerial Group has been set up” the Minister added.

   Commending the achievements of the CAT Shri Narayansamy said “ There is still room for improvement in its efficiency. It is observed that by the end of January,2013, 805 cases were pending for more than five years. We should definitely look into this aspect and try to minimize such pendency. I would, therefore, request the Chairman and members of the tribunal to accelerate the pace of disposal of cases.”

   The conference was presided by Union Minister of Law and Justice Dr. Ashwani Kumar. He said that CAT has come a long way since its inception and now the need of the hour is to handle so many cases lying pending with more efficiency. Chief Justice of India, Mr. Justice Altamas Kabir as Chief Guest assured that more Government employees would be in a position to get speedy justice for their grievances. Mr. Justice Syed Rafat Alam, Chairman CAT, assured that CAT would now try its level best to reduce the disposal time of the case from two years to one calendar year or lesser time.

   The main purpose of the Conference was to deliberate on certain issues concerning the Tribunal and to improve the working conditions of the institution and also to chalk out various measures to be adopted to arrest the pendency of cases. The Central Administrative Tribunal came into existence in November 1985 and is entrusted with the task of adjudicating complaints and other service matters pertaining to the Central Government employees as well as employees of PSUs and organizations so notified under Section 14 (2) of the Act by the Government.

   The day long conference is being attended by all the 65 members from the 17 regular Benches and the Principal Bench of CAT.

CGHS Empanelled Hospitals under CGHS in Delhi NCR.

CGHS Empanelled Hospitals
 
   Some private hospitals in Delhi NCR are no longer on the list of CGHS empanelled private hospitals. The details are as under:
 
   1. The following hospitals have opted not to renew their empanelment with CGHS after completion of two years of empanelment. Accordingly they have been removed from CGHS panel w.e.f. 13.02.2013:
 
   (i) Escort’s Heart Institute & Research Centre, New Delhi
   (ii)Max Super Specialty Hospital, New Delhi
 
   2. Empanelment of following two hospitals has been suspended:
 
   (i) Max Devki Devi Heart & Vascular Institute, New Delhi (w.e.f. 13.02.2013) as the hospital stopped credit facility to eligible CGHS beneficiaries;

   (ii) Bapu Nature Cure Hospital, New Delhi (w.e.f.12.09.2013) on account of deficiency in services.
 
   In addition, the following hospitals in Delhi NCR have been removed w.e.f. 18.12.2012 from the CGHS panel for non-compliance of the terms and conditions of their empanelment with CGHS.

 
   (i)     Garg Multispecialty Dental & Research Centre, Ghaziabad

   (ii)    Jain Hospital, Jagriti enclave, New Delhi

  (iii)        Kalra Hospital, New Delhi

   (iv)        Orthonova  Hospital, New Delhi
 

   CGHS beneficiaries already admitted and undergoing inpatient treatment with prior permission at the time of removal are permitted to complete their treatment at those hospitals.
 
   There is no provision for allowing regular treatment from any private non empanelled hospitals under normal circumstances.
 
   Government has revived continuous empanelment scheme on 14.2.2013 for empanelment of more number of eligible hospitals under CGHS.
 
   The above information was given by the Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Shri GhulamNabi Azad in a written reply to a question in the LokSabha today.

Railways Conduct Checks to Prevent Misuse of Tatkal Tickets.

   Railways Conduct Checks to Prevent Misuse of Tatkal Tickets

   Under Tatkal Scheme, tickets are sold only to genuine passengers on production of self attested photocopy of one of the prescribed proofs of identity. While booking Tatkal tickets through internet, the details of the specific proof of identity have to be indicated. The passenger has to carry the same in original during travel.

   Further, Tatkal scheme has been rationalized and a number of modifications have been made with a view to avoid misuse of Tatkal scheme, which include no refund on cancellation of confirmed Tatkal tickets, non-issue of duplicate Tatkal ticket under normal circumstances, change of timings of opening of booking of Tatkal tickets, etc.

   To check the cornering of seats by touts in connivance with railway staff, preventive checks are conducted in and around reservation offices. Checks are also conducted in trains against travelling on transferred ticket. Surveillance/Monitoring of the working of reservation offices is also undertaken by installing CCTVs to prevent possible activities of touts.

   Railway staff, if found indulging in malpractices in connivance with touts, are taken up under the Disciplinary and Appeal Rules. During the financial year 2012-13 (upto January 2013), 2115 touts have been apprehended/prosecuted.

   This information was given by the Minister of State for Railways Shri Kotla Jaya Surya Prakash Reddy in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.