New CESTAT Benches at Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Allahabad at Rs. 10 crs per Year

The Union Cabinet on 17 October gave its approval for setting up six additional Benches of the Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT), including three at the existing locations of New Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai and three new Benches at Chandigarh, Allahabad and Hyderabad.

With the creation of six additional benches of CESTAT, disposal of cases will increase and pendency will decrease benefiting Government and tax payers. The proposal would facilitate the cause of Government as well as litigants, by reducing travel time and expenditure and also the timely disposal of cases.

The creation of additional/new Benches of the CESTAT would require the creation of twelve posts of Members of the Tribunal (6 Technical and 6 Judicial Members) in the Higher Administrative Grade (HAG+) in addition to 98 posts of supporting staff including Deputy Registrar/Assistant Registrar.

The creation of additional/new Benches of the CESTAT would amount to a one time expenditure of Rs. 3.45 crore while the recurring expenditure would be Rs. 10 crore per annum.