The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), Cuttack Bench, has imposed a cost of Rs 20,000 on a senior officer of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) for failing to comply with its earlier directions in a suspension-related case filed by Deepak Niranjan Nath Pandit.
The Tribunal, comprising Member (Administrative) Pramod Kumar Das and Member (Judicial) Sudhi Ranjan Mishra, expressed displeasure over the department's failure to file a full compliance report or a stay order from the High Court, despite explicit instructions in its previous order dated September 12, 2025.
During the hearing, counsel for the respondents, A.C. Deo, informed the Tribunal that a miscellaneous application (M.A. No. 462/2025) had been filed seeking dispensation of the personal appearance of Respondent No. 2, citing that the department's writ petition was listed before the High Court on October 29, 2025. However, the Tribunal observed that the respondents were duty-bound to either produce a compliance report or the stay order as directed.
The Tribunal stated that the "action of the respondents in not doing so is not appreciated," and proceeded to impose a cost of Rs 20,000 on Respondent No. 2, payable to the applicant by the next hearing.
Further, the Bench directed the respondents to submit the full compliance report or stay order by the next date, failing which Respondent No. 2 must personally appear before the Tribunal on December 11, 2025, at 10:30 a.m.
The matter has been listed for further hearing on December 11, 2025. Copies of the order have been directed to be served on both sides as well as sent to Respondents No. 1 and 2 via speed post.
Official copy of the Order Sheet has been attached
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