(a) the details of vacancies of the presiding officer in each Railway Claims Tribunal as on date;
(b) whether the Government is aware that the post of presiding officer in RCT, Bangalore has not been filled for the last four years which has resulted in delay in settling the claims;
(c) if so, the reasons therefor; and
(d) the time by which the post is likely to be filled up?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS ( SHRI R. VELU )
(a) There is no post of `Presiding Officer` as such in Railway Claims Tribunal (RCT). Each RCT Bench consists of a Judicial Member and a Technical Member who exercise powers vested in them under the provisions of Railway Claims Tribunal Act, 1987. At present, the posts of Judicial Members are vacant at Kolkata (two benches), Guwahati, Patna, Chennai, Bangalore and Nagpur and that of Technical Members are vacant at Delhi, Ghaziabad, Gorakhpur, Lucknow, Kolkata, Patna and Bangalore benches of the Railway Claims Tribunal (RCT).
(b) & (c) The post of Member (Judicial) and that of Member (Technical) at Bangalore Bench of RCT have been vacant since 7.5.05 and 21.5.04 respectively and not for the last four years. The respective vacancies have arisen due to transfer. As regards settlement of claims, where the posts of Members are vacant, Circuit Benches are held by the Members from other benches of RCT as nominated by the Chairman, RCT from time to time.
(d) To fill up the vacant posts of Member (Technical), including that of Bangalore bench of RCT, the recommendations of the Selection Committee are awaiting approval of the Competent Authority. Regarding the vacant posts of Member (Judicial), including that of Bangalore bench of RCT, selection process has been initiated by notifying the vacancies.