On December 15, 2025, the Ministry of Labour and Employment addressed Unstarred Question No. 2466 regarding the delay in filling the vacant Presiding Officer post at the Central Government Industrial Tribunal-cum-Labour Court in Ernakulam, vacant since August 2022, and the impact on the labour sector in Kerala and Lakshadweep. The Minister of State for Labour and Employment (Sushri Shobha Karandlaje) stated that an appointment order has been issued to the selected candidate. To address difficulties caused by the vacant post, the Presiding Officer (PO) of the Central Government Industrial Tribunal-cum-Labour Court, Chennai, has been entrusted with additional charge in Ernakulam. As of November 30, 2025, there are 1135 pending cases in the Central Government Industrial Tribunal-cum-Labour Court in Ernakulam.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Labour and Employment: The primary ministry responsible for answering the question related to filling vacant posts in industrial tribunals.
Central Government Industrial Tribunal-cum-Labour Court: The specific type of labour court where the vacant Presiding Officer position is located, mentioned specifically in Ernakulam and Chennai.
Ernakulam: Location of the Central Government Industrial Tribunal-cum-Labour Court where the Presiding Officer post is vacant and also the location where the labour sector has faced difficulties.
Kerala: State where the labour sector has faced difficulties due to vacant post of Presiding Officer.
Lakshadweep: Union territory where the labour sector has faced difficulties due to vacant post of Presiding Officer.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2466
TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.12.2025
DELAY IN FILLING THE VACANT POST OF PRESIDING OFFICER
2466. SHRI M K RAGHAVAN:
Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to
state:
(a) whether the Government has planned to fill the vacant post of the
Presiding Officer at Central Government Industrial Tribunal-cum-
Labour Court, Ernakulam which has been lying vacant since
August 2022 and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government has noticed the difficulties faced by the
labour sector in Kerala and Lakshadweep due to the said vacant
post and if so, the details thereof; and
(c) whether the Government has any data on the number of cases
pending in the Central Government Industrial Tribunal-cum-Labour
Court, Ernakulam and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
(SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE)
(a) to (c): Appointment order has been issued to the selected
candidate. However, considering the difficulties faced by labour
sector in Kerala and Lakshadweep due to vacant post, additional
charge of Presiding Officer (PO), Central Government Industrial
Tribunal-cum-Labour Court, Ernakulam has been entrusted to PO,
Central Government Industrial Tribunal-cum-Labour Court, Chennai.
As on 30.11.2025, a total of 1135 cases are pending in Central
Government Industrial Tribunal-cum-Labour Court, Ernakulam.
*****