1. Short title, extent and commencement.—(1) This Act may be called the Administrative
Tribunals Act, 1985.
(2) It extends,—
(a) in so far as it relates to the Central Administrative Tribunal, to the whole of India;
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(3) The provisions of this Act, in so far as they relate to the Central Administrative Tribunal, shall
come into force on such date3
as the Central Government may, by notification, appoint.
(4) The provisions of this Act, in so far as they relate to an Administrative Tribunal for a State, shall
come into force in a State on such date as the Central Government may, by notification, appoint.
2. Act not to apply to certain persons.—The provisions of this Act shall not apply to—
(a) any member of the naval, military or air forces or of any other armed forces of the Union;
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(c) any officer or servant of the Supreme Court or of any High Court 5
[or courts subordinate
thereto];
(d) any person appointed to the secretarial staff of either House of Parliament or to the secretarial
staff of any State Legislature or a House thereof or, in the case of a Union territory having a
Legislature, of that Legislature.
3. Definitions.—In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—
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[(a) “Administrative Member” means a Member of a Tribunal who is not a Judicial Member
within the meaning of clause (i);]
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[(aa)] “Administrative Tribunal”, in relation to a State, means the Administrative Tribunal for
the State or, as the case may be, the Joint Administrative Tribunal for that State and any other State or
States;
(b) “application” means an application made under section 19;
1. Subs. by Act 19 of 1986, s. 2, for “any corporation owned or controlled by the Government” (w.e.f. 22-1-1986).
2. Clause (b) omitted by Act 34 of 2019, s. 95 and the Fifth Schedule (w.e.f. 31-10- 2019).
3. 1st July, 1985, vide notification No. G.S.R. 527(E), dated by 1st July, 1985, see Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II,
sec. 3(i).
4. Clause (b) omitted by Act 19 of 1986, s. 3 (w.e.f. 1-11-1985).
5. Ins. by Act 51 of 1987, s. 2 (w.e.f.22-12-1987).
6. Ins. by Act 19 of 1986, s. 4 (w.e.f. 22-1-1986).
7. Clause (a) re-lettered as clause (aa) thereof by s. 4, ibid. (w.e.f. 22-1-1986).
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(c) “appointed day”, in relation to a Tribunal, means the date with effect from which it is
established, by notification, under section 4;
(d) “appropriate Government” means,—
(i) in relation to the Central Administrative Tribunal or a Joint Administrative Tribunal, the
Central Government;
(ii) in relation to a State Administrative Tribunal, the State Government;
(e) “Bench” means a Bench of a Tribunal;
(f) “Central Administrative Tribunal” means the Administrative Tribunal established under
sub-section (1) of section 4;
(g) “Chairman” means the Chairman of a Tribunal;
(h) “Joint Administrative Tribunal” means an Administrative Tribunal for two or more States
established under sub-section (3) of section 4;
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[(i) “Judicial Member” means a Member of a Tribunal appointed as such under this Act, and
includes 2
[the Chairman] who possesses any of the qualifications specified in sub-section (3) of
section 6;
(ia) “Member” means a Member (whether Judicial or Administrative) of a Tribunal, and includes
the Chairman 3***;]
(j) “notification” means a notification published in the Official Gazette;
(k) “post” means a post within or outside India;
(l) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act;
(m) “President” means the President of India;
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(o) “rules” means rules made under this Act;
(p) “service” means service within or outside India;
(q) “service matters”, in relation to a person, means all matters relating to the conditions of his service
in connection with the affairs of the Union or of any State or of any local or other authority within the
territory of India or under the control of the Government of India, or, as the case may be, of any
corporation 5
[or society] owned or controlled by the Government, as respects—
(i) remuneration (including allowances), pension and other retirement benefits;
(ii) tenure including confirmation, seniority, promotion, reversion, premature retirement and
superannuation;
(iii) leave of any kind;
(iv) disciplinary matters; or
(v) any other matter whatsoever;
(r) “service rules as to redressal of grievances”, in relation to any matter, means the rules, regulations,
orders or other instruments or arrangements as in force for the time being with respect to redressal,
otherwise than under this Act, of any grievances in relation to such matters;
1. Subs. by Act 19 of 1986, s. 4, for clause (i) (w.e.f. 22-1-1986).
2. Subs. by Act 1 of 2007, s. 2, for “the Chairman or a Vice-Chairman” (w.e.f. 19-2-2007).
3. The words “and a Vice-Chairman” omitted by s. 2, ibid. (w.e.f. 19-2-2007).
4. Clause (n) omitted by Act 19 of 1986, s. 4 (w.e.f. 22-1-1986).
5. Ins. by s. 4, ibid. (w.e.f. 22-1-1986).
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[(rr) “society” means a society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 (21 of 1860), or
under any corresponding law for the time being in force in a State;]
(s) “Supreme Court” means the Supreme Court of India;
(t) “Tribunal” means the Central Administrative Tribunal or a State Administrative Tribunal or a Joint
Administrative Tribunal;
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[(u) “Vice-Chairman” means a Member who has been authorised by the appropriate Government to
perform administrative functions at each of the places where Benches of the Tribunal have been set up.]
Explanation.—In the case of a Tribunal having two or more Vice-Chairmen, references to the
Vice-Chairman in this Act shall be construed as a reference to each of those Vice-Chairmen.