Supreme Court notice to Center on plea highlighting vacancies in Income Tax Appellate Tribunal

The Supreme Court said it was surprised as to why these posts were lying vacant for a long time and assured advocate Mukul Rohatgi that it would look into the matter from an administrative point of view. File | Photo credit: Reuters

The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday (May 26, 2026) asked the Center to respond to a plea regarding vacancies of staff and members across the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) and asked the high courts to send judicial officers on deputation to meet the requirements.

A bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi issued a notice to the Center and sought the assistance of Attorney General R. Venkataramani in the matter.

“Petition to be submitted to the Attorney General’s office to ensure that the vacant posts are filled up at the earliest in the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal. As a stopgap measure, the tribunals may ask the HC to send judicial officers on deputation where such officers can be spared,” the Bench said.

The Supreme Court was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by former ITAT Vice President Parveen Kumar Bansal regarding vacancies in the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT). Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the petitioner, said that all the posts of officers, including registrars, have been lying vacant for many years.

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The Supreme Court said it was surprised why these posts were lying vacant for a long time and assured Mr. Rohatgi that it would look into the matter from an administrative point of view.

Published – 26 May 2026 13:26 IST