New Delhi: In a significant move to bolster the functioning of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), the Central Government has appointed four Administrative Members and five Judicial Members to various CAT benches across the country.
According to the official order dated September 2, 2025, the appointments are for a period of four years or until the appointees attain the age of 67 years, whichever comes earlier. These appointments are expected to strengthen CAT’s capacity to deliver timely justice in service matters involving central government employees.
List of Newly Appointed Administrative Members
Braj Mohan Agrawal (IRSME:1986)
Former Member (Traction & Rolling Stock), Railway Board
Assigned to: CAT, Ernakulam Bench
Manju Pandey (IPoS:1989)
Former Director General, Postal Services, Department of Posts
Assigned to: CAT, Allahabad Bench
Sanjiv Kumar (IAS:1992:AGMUT)
Former Additional Chief Secretary-cum-Commissioner (Food & Supplies) and Chairman, DPCC, GNCTD
Assigned to: CAT, Guwahati Bench
Vijoy Kumar Singh (IAS:1990:PB)
Former Special Chief Secretary, Government of Punjab
Assigned to: CAT, Srinagar Bench
List of Newly Appointed Judicial Members
Justice Biren A. Vaishnav
Former Judge, High Court of Gujarat
Assigned to: CAT, Hyderabad Bench
Diwakar Singh (ILS)
Former Additional Secretary, Department of Legal Affairs, Government of India
Assigned to: CAT, Kolkata Bench
Justice Narendra Kumar Johari
Former Judge, High Court of Allahabad
Assigned to: CAT, Patna Bench
Justice Navneet Kumar
Former Judge, Jharkhand High Court
Assigned to: CAT, Guwahati Bench
Justice Ritu Tagore
Former Judge, High Court of Punjab and Haryana
Future Assignment: CAT, Srinagar Bench
Effective Date: November 1, 2025 (within 30 days)
This appointment fills the vacancy that will arise upon the retirement of D.S. Mehra, current Judicial Member, on October 30, 2025.
Significance of the Appointments
These new appointments are expected to significantly enhance the judicial capacity of CAT, which plays a vital role in adjudicating disputes and complaints related to recruitment and service conditions of central government employees. By distributing experienced former civil servants and judges across key regional benches, the government aims to strengthen regional access to administrative justice.
The appointments also reflect the government’s commitment to improving the efficiency and effectiveness of quasi-judicial bodies through induction of experienced professionals from both administrative and legal domains.
