CAT Recruitment 2026: 4 Judicial Member – Apply Offline @ dopt.gov.in

About CAT Judicial Member Vacancy 2026

The Central Administrative Tribunal was established under the Administrative Tribunal Act, 1985, to adjudicate cases related to the service matters of persons appointed under the Government of India. Its Principal Bench is located at New Delhi, with 18 Benches at Ahmedabad, Allahabad, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Madras, Cuttack, Ernakulam, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Jabalpur, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Calcutta, Lucknow, Mumbai, Patna, Jammu, and Srinagar. Upon selection, a Judicial Member may be posted to any of these locations.

Vacancy Circular No. A-11013/1/2025-AT dated 5th November 2026 has been issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (AT Section), Room No. 504, Ground Floor, GPOA-3, Netaji Nagar, New Delhi, calling applications for 4 vacancies of Judicial Member. These are existing and anticipated vacancies and are liable to vary due to various exigencies.

Post-Wise Vacancy & Pay Scale

Eligibility Criteria & Educational Qualification

Eligibility is governed by Rule 25(III)(b) of the Qualification, Selection, and Conditions of Service of Chairperson and Members of Tribunals Rules, 2026. A person shall not be qualified for appointment as Judicial Member unless he meets any one of the following four conditions:

• High Court Judge: Is, or has been, a Judge of a High Court.
• District Judge / Additional District Judge: Has been a District Judge and Additional District Judge for a combined period of ten years.
• Advocate: Has been an advocate for ten years with substantial experience in litigation in service matters in the Central Administrative Tribunal, Armed Forces Tribunal, High Court or Supreme Court.
• Indian Legal Service Officer: Is, or has been, a member of the Indian Legal Service in Grade I or above.

Note: The last date of receipt of applications, 20 December 2026, is the crucial date for deciding eligibility. The notification does not specify a separate educational qualification or an application age limit; the term of office ends at the age of sixty-seven years.

Selection Process & Screening Clause

Under section 24(3)(a) of the Tribunals Reforms Act, 2026, the Search-cum-Selection Committee constituted under the Tribunals Reforms Act, 2021 will complete the selection. The process involves the following stages:

1. Scrutiny: The Committee scrutinises all applications for suitability, giving due weightage to qualification and experience.
2. Shortlisting: The Committee shortlists candidates for personal interaction.
3. Personal Interaction: Shortlisted candidates are called for a personal interaction interview.
4. Final Selection: Based on the Committee's overall evaluation of qualification, experience, and personal interaction.

Important: No TA/DA will be paid to candidates called for the interview / personal interaction; they must make their own arrangements.

Terms of Service, Pay & Conditions

• Salary: Rs. 2,25,000 (fixed) per month.
• Allowances: Admissible to a Government of India officer holding a Group 'A' post carrying the same pay.
• Pension Deduction: If the appointee is in receipt of any pension, the pay is reduced by the gross amount of pension drawn.
• Retirement Benefits: Members are not entitled to additional pension, provident fund, and gratuity for services rendered in the Tribunal.
• Term: Five years or till the Member attains the age of 67 years, whichever is earlier.
• Serving Officers: Serving Judges of the Supreme Court, High Court, or serving members of any Central or State Government service must resign or obtain voluntary retirement from the parent service before joining.
• Re-appointment: Members are eligible for re-appointment in the same manner as the original appointment; the Search-cum-Selection Committee will consider previous work performance.

How to Apply for CAT Judicial Member 2026

Applications must be submitted offline. The advertisement and prescribed application form can be downloaded from the DoPT website or the CAT website.

1. Download the application proforma (Annexure-I) and tick "Fresh" or "Re-appointment".
2. Fill every point and column neatly and type the application. Where a point does not apply, mention that.
3. Paste a photograph duly signed by the candidate.
4. Complete all form sections: work experience, date from which pay scale is drawn on a regular basis, a 200-word write-up on adjudicating experience, cases handled before courts or tribunals, five major achievements (200 words each), awards, and affiliations with professional bodies or any other body including a political party.
5. Sign the declaration at the end of the form.
6. Send through proper channel wherever applicable, with all supporting documents.
7. Deliver the original application by hand, speed post or registered post to:
   The Secretary, Department of Personnel and Training, Kartavya Bhawan-3, Central Secretariat, Kartavya Path, New Delhi – 110001
8. Ensure the application reaches latest by 05:30 PM on or before 20 December 2026 (Sunday).

Download the official notification: Download CAT Judicial Member Vacancy Circular A-11013/1/2025-AT Official Notification PDF

Required Documents & Instructions for Candidates

The following documents must accompany the application:

1. Bio-data in the proforma at Annexure-I.
2. Certificate from the Employer / Head of Office / Forwarding Authority (Annexure-II), signed by the Cadre Controlling Authority or the Registrar of a High Court or the Supreme Court.
3. Clear photocopies of the up-to-date CR/APAR dossier containing CR/APARs of at least the last five years, attested by a Group A Officer.
4. Cadre clearance certificate.
5. Integrity certificate / clearance from the vigilance and disciplinary angle (Annexure-III), furnished and signed by the CVO or HOD.
6. Statement of major or minor penalties, if any, imposed during the last ten years.
7. Self-attested latest pay slip, along with the serial number of the post equivalent to Indian Legal Service Grade-I / District Judge / Additional District Judge or above.
8. Proof of experience, including Enrolment / Registration Number as an Advocate (for candidates other than Government or judicial officers).
9. Annual income for the last five years with a copy of the ITR (for candidates from the Advocate stream).

Key Instructions:

• Applications received after the due date, incomplete applications, or applications without necessary Annexures will not be entertained.
• DoPT will not be responsible for postal delay or loss of the application for any reason.
• In the declaration, the candidate undertakes not to withdraw after the meeting of the Selection Committee, not to decline appointment if selected by the ACC, and to join within 30 days of the appointment order.
• Violating any of these three undertakings may lead the Government of India to debar the candidate for three years from consideration for appointment outside the cadre and in any Autonomous, Statutory or Regulatory Body.
• If any material information is found concealed or distorted, the appointment is liable to summary termination without notice.
• Contact: Rishi Pal, Under Secretary to the Govt. of India (AT), Tel: 011-26773460/62, Email: rishi[dot]pal[dot]gov[dot]in

Important Links

Frequently Asked Questions