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

The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday (May 26, 2026) sought response from the Centre on a plea regarding staff and member vacancies 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 notice to the Centre and sought assistance from Attorney General R. Venkataramani on the issue.

“Petition to be supplied to the office of Attorney General to ensure that the unfilled posts are filled at the earliest in the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal. As a stop gap measure tribunals may request 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 a ex-Vice-President of the ITAT Parveen Kumar Bansal concerning vacancies in Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT). Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the petitioner, submitted that all posts of officers, including registrars, are lying vacant for a number of years.

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The Supreme Court said it was surprised that why these posts are vacant for long and assured Mr. Rohatgi that it will look into the issue on the administrative side.