![CAT Imposes Rs. 20K Cost on CBIC Chairman For Non-Appearance [READ ORDER]](https://www.jurishour.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Penalty-Imposed-cbic-chairman-696x392.jpg "Penalty Imposed cbic chairman")
The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), Cuttack Bench, has imposed Rs. 20K cost on CBIC Chairman for non-appearance.
The case, titled Deepak Niranjan Nath Pandit vs Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC), was heard by a Bench comprising Member (A) Pramod Kumar Das and Member (J) Sudhi Ranjan Mishra. The matter pertains to alleged non-compliance with the Tribunal’s earlier order dated September 12, 2025, which had directed the CBIC Chairman to either file a full compliance report or obtain a stay order from the High Court.
During the hearing, Tushar Ranjan Mohanty, counsel for the applicant, submitted that despite clear directions, the CBIC Chairman failed to comply with the Tribunal’s order or to appear before the Bench as directed. The Tribunal had specifically instructed that CBIC Chairman should remain personally present if no stay or compliance report was filed.
On behalf of the respondents, A.C. Deo, counsel for CBIC, informed the Tribunal that an MA had been filed seeking dispensation of personal appearance for CBIC Chairman, stating that the department’s writ petition before the High Court has been listed for hearing on October 29, 2025.
However, the Tribunal took a serious view of the non-compliance, observing that “the action of the respondents in not doing so is not appreciated.” It reiterated that either a full compliance report or a stay order from the High Court must be placed on record.
Taking into account the prayer of the respondents’ counsel, the Tribunal refrained from issuing a coercive order but imposed a cost of Rs. 20,000 on CBIC Chairman to be paid to the applicant before the next date of hearing.
The Bench further directed the respondents to file the full compliance report or stay order, if any, by the next date, failing which the CBIC Chairman must remain personally present before the Tribunal on December 11, 2025, at 10:30 a.m.
Case Details
Case Title: Deepak Niranjan Nath Pandit Vs Central Board Of Indirect Taxes &Amp; Customs (CBIC)
Date: 23/10/2025
