The Delhi High Court has clarified the scope of the Central Administrative Tribunal’s (CAT) authority, holding that disputes arising from the recruitment process of armed forces fall squarely within the Tribunal’s jurisdiction—so long as the challenger is not already in uniform.
A Division Bench ruled that while CAT cannot entertain service-related grievances of personnel who have already joined an armed force, it is fully empowered to examine challenges raised by candidates during the recruitment stage. In other words, the gate to CAT closes once a person becomes a member of the force—but remains open for aspirants still outside it.
The ruling came while dismissing a challenge by the Union government to a CAT decision that had entertained objections to a Railway Protection Force (RPF) recruitment exercise. The case stemmed from a 2018 selection process in which a candidate cleared all stages but was declared medically unfit due to having undergone LASIK surgery. CAT later directed his appointment, prompting the Centre to argue that the Tribunal lacked jurisdiction altogether.
The High Court rejected this contention, drawing a clear distinction between “service matters” and “recruitment disputes.” It noted that the Administrative Tribunals Act excludes only members of the armed forces from CAT’s purview—meaning individuals who have already been appointed. Candidates still navigating the selection process do not fall within that exclusion.
The Bench also underscored that the RPF is recognised as a Group ‘A’ Central Civil Service, placing recruitment-related challenges well within CAT’s authority under the Act.
Importantly, the Court clarified that its ruling addresses only the question of jurisdiction. The merits of the government’s challenge to the recruitment decision will be examined separately by the appropriate bench.
With this judgment, the High Court has drawn a firm jurisdictional boundary: once enlistment begins, CAT steps aside—but until then, the Tribunal remains the proper forum for recruitment grievances.
