SAT Crisis: Deadlock in SAT! Firdous Shamim Explosive Against State Govt
SAT Crisis: Prominent lawyer Firdous Shamim has expressed deep concern over the current state of the West Bengal State Administrative Tribunal (SAT), a crucial legal forum for state government employees. He alleges that constitutional institutions in the state are being systematically rendered ineffective. This deadlock is not only depriving government employees of justice but is also accompanied by allegations of opacity in significant recruitment processes like that of the police force.
Deadlock in SAT: A Judicial Crisis
According to Lawyer Firdous Shamim, the West Bengal State Administrative Tribunal is currently functioning without any guardians. For government employees, SAT serves as the ‘Court of First Instance’ for resolving disputes related to service conditions, DA arrears, and other legal matters. However, the institution is crumbling due to a severe lack of judges and administrative members.
- Vacancy of Members: There has been no Judicial Member in the tribunal since 2023. The situation worsened in September 2025, when the last Administrative Member retired. Consequently, there is currently no one to form a bench.
- Mounting Backlog: With no judges to hear cases, thousands of petitions remain pending. Shamim stated that SAT has effectively turned into a mere “filing counter” where cases are accepted but no justice is delivered.
Government’s Role and Legal Context
Citing the Supreme Court’s landmark judgment in the L. Chandra Kumar case, Lawyer Shamim emphasized that judicial review by tribunals is an integral part of the Constitution’s basic structure. However, he accused the state government of violating this constitutional right.
He alleges that the government is deliberately keeping the tribunal dysfunctional. The reasoning provided is that regular hearings would likely expose corruption within various government departments. By delaying the appointment of members, the government is accused of trying to “strangle” the institution. As a result, aggrieved employees are forced to approach the Division Bench of the High Court for urgent relief, which is both time-consuming and expensive.
Lack of Transparency in Police Constable Recruitment
Beyond the tribunal crisis, Lawyer Firdous Shamim also raised serious questions regarding the West Bengal Police Constable recruitment process. He claims there is a complete lack of transparency.
- Hidden Marks: The marks obtained by candidates have not been published, which goes against the principles of a transparent recruitment process.
- Missing Lists: There is no detailed list disclosing how many candidates from each category have been called for the next stages (Interview or PET/PMT).
- Allegations of Concealment: The authorities have merely published roll numbers to fulfill their duty. According to Shamim, this pattern of hiding information has become a “normal” sign of corruption under the current administration.
Call to Save Constitutional Institutions
Lawyer Firdous Shamim expressed apprehension that both the Central and State governments are engaged in a dangerous trend of destroying constitutional institutions. In light of this, he has urged the legal fraternity, government employees, and the media to unite and protest. He believes it is imperative to speak up now to restore transparency in the judicial and recruitment systems and to save these vital constitutional bodies.
