RTI
Particulars of Organization, Functions and Duties:
A ORGANIZATION:
- The Adjudicatory Board for Major Ports (ABMP) has been constituted by the Central Government in pursuance of sub-sections (1) and (2) of Section 54 and Section 55 of the Major Port Authorities (MPA) Act, 2021 on 13th August, 2025.
- The office of the ABMP is located on the 4th floor, Bhandar Bhavan, Muzawar Pakhadi Road, Mazgoan, Mumbai- 400 010.
- The ABMP comprises of a Presiding Officer and two Members appointed by the Central Government meeting the following qualifications:
i) Presiding Officer of the Adjudicatory Board shall be retired Judge of the Supreme Court of India or a retired Chief Justice of a High Court.
ii) Members of the Board shall be retired Chief Secretary of a State Government or equivalent; or - The terms of office, conditions of service, qualifications, etc. of the Presiding Officer and Members of the Adjudicatory Board are governed by Section 56 of the MPA Act, 2021 read with Rule 12 to 19 of the Major Ports Adjudicatory Board (ABMP) Rules, 2023.
- Present composition of the ABMP:
(i) Justice Ashish Jitendra Desai Former Chief Justice, Kerala High Court - Presiding Officer
(i) Shri Chirravuri Viswanath Former Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs, and Former Member, National Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission (NCDRC) -Member
(iii) Dr. Sanjeev Ranjan Former Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, and Technical Member, National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) -Member
B FUNCTIONS, DUTIES AND POWERS:
B1. Functions and Duties:
The ABMP is empowered by Section 58 of the MPA Act, 2021 to perform the following functions, other than tariff setting namely:-
- Functions envisaged to be carried out by the erstwhile TAMP arising from the Tariff Guidelines of 2005, 2008, 2013, 2018 and 2019 and tariff orders issued by the TAMP [Section 58(1)(a)] (Category A).
- Receive and adjudicate reference on any dispute or differences or claims relating to rights and obligations of Major Ports and PPP concessionaires or captive users for dedicated berth within the framework of their concession agreements and to pass orders after considering and hearing all the parties involved in the dispute [Section 58(1)(b)] (Category B).
- Appraise, review the stressed PPP projects as referred by the Central Government or the Board, and to suggest measures to revive such projects [Section 58(1)(c)] (Category C).
- Look into the complaints received from port users against the services and terms of service rendered by the Major Ports or the private operators operating in the Major Ports and to pass necessary orders after hearing the parties concerned [Section 58(1)(d)] (Category D).
- Look into any other matter relating to the operations of the Major Port, as may be referred to it by the Central Government or the Board, and to pass orders or give suggestions, as the case may be [Section 58(1)(e)] (Category E).
Further, under Section 32 of the MPA Act, 2021, any person aggrieved by any action of the Board of Major Ports while exercising its powers under Sections 22 to 31 (except section 29) as listed below may approach the Adjudicatory Board (Category F).
- Usage of port assets by Major Port Board [Section 22].
- Procedure when immovable property cannot be acquired by agreement [Section 23].
- Contracts by Major Port Board [Section 24].
- Creation of specific master plan in respect of any development or infrastructure [Section 25].Creation of specific master plan in respect of any development or infrastructure [Section 25].
- Power of Major Port Authorities to make regulations for the purposes of planning and development [Section 26].
- Scale of Rates and statement of conditions framed by Major Ports and PPP Concessionaires [Section 27].
- Board’s lien for rates and power to seize and detain goods until rates and rents are fully paid [Section 28].
- Sale of goods and application of sale proceeds in specified cases proceeds by Major Port after expiry of time in the manner prescribed in Section 48 of the Customs Act. [Section 30].
- Recovery of rates and charges by the Major Ports from vessel under distraint. [Section 31].
The Adjudicatory Board shall not entertain any case or application including public interest litigations from unrelated parties on any matter specified above.
B2. Powers of Adjudicatory Board:
The Adjudicatory Board for Major Ports shall have the same powers as are vested in a Civil Court under the Code of Civil Procedure for discharging its functions, namely:
- the discovery and production of books of account/ other documents and receiving evidence on affidavits, at such place and at such time as may be specified by the Adjudicatory Board;
- summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person and examining him on oath;
- issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses or documents;
- Requisitioning any public record or document or a copy of such record or document from any office subject to the provisions of sections 123 and 124 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872.
- reviewing its decisions;
- dismissing an application for default or deciding it ex parte;
- setting aside any order of dismissal of any application for default or any order passed by it ex parte;
- pass an interim order (including granting an injunction or stay) after providing the parties concerned an opportunity to be heard, on any application made under the Act and these rules; and
- such other matters as may be specified by the Central Government.
The Adjudicatory Board shall not be bound by the procedure laid down by the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), but shall be guided by the principles of natural justice and the provisions of the Act and the rules made thereunder.
Bar of jurisdiction of any court:
The MPA Act stipulates that no other court shall have jurisdiction to entertain any suit for proceeding in respect of any matter falling within the scope of the Adjudicatory Board.
Provided that the above provisions shall not apply to matters stated in section 58 that are referred to arbitration by the concerned parties within the framework of their respective contracts or concession agreements.
2. Powers and Duties of the Officers and Employees:
- The Adjudicatory Board headed by the Presiding Officer and comprising of two Members shall exercise the powers and perform the functions as provided in Section 58 of the Act read with Major Ports Adjudicatory Board (ABMP) Rules, 2023 and shall receive, review and adjudicate upon cases, applications and references, review, interlocutory applications filed by Applicants before the ABMP and pass orders after hearing all the concerned parties.
- The Registrar, Secretary, Officers and other Employees of the Adjudicatory Board discharge their functions under the general superintendence of the Presiding Officer. The Registrar and Secretary shall carry out the functions as prescribed in Rule no. 30 and 31 respectively of the ABMP Rules, 2023. The officers and employees assist the Adjudicatory Board in processing of the cases filed before the Adjudicatory Board.
3. Procedure in Decision Making:
The ABMP follows the procedure prescribed in the Major Port Adjudicatory Board, Rule 2023 in discharge of its functions. The Adjudicatory Board adopts a consultative process so as to promote the greatest participation of the greatest number of interested parties including Major Port Authorities, private operators and port users. The procedure followed by the ABMP on receipt of the case, application, reference, review or interlocutory application filed by the Applicant are broadly as follows:
- The ABMP to undertake scrutiny of the case, application, reference, review or interlocutory application and other documents filed before the Adjudicatory Board.
- Defects, if any, observed during scrutiny of case, application, reference, review or interlocutory application is pointed out to the applicant requiring the applicant to rectify such defects within fifteen days of receipt of communication
- Register the case, application, reference, review or interlocutory application received in complete form in the prescribed format along with the prescribed fees.
- Serve copy of the case, application, reference, review or interlocutory application with the enclosures to the concerned parties (Respondents).
- The parties to whom the notices are served may file comments or reply before the date of hearing and such reply shall be served on the applicant by the respondent.
- The hearings organised by the Adjudicatory Board gives opportunity of hearing to concerned parties.
- The Adjudicatory Board has the same powers as are vested in a civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), for the purposes of discharging its functions.
- The Adjudicatory Board is not bound by the procedure laid down by the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), but is guided by the principles of natural justice.
- The Adjudicatory Board passes such orders as it thinks fit, disposing of the case filed before the Board. The Order passed by the Adjudicatory Board is hosted on the website of the Adjudicatory Board.
- The Adjudicatory Board discharges its functions as empowered under the Major Port Authorities Act, 2021 and following the Major Ports Adjudicatory Board Rules, 2023 issued by the Government of India which are notified in the Gazette of India as given below.
| Sr. No. | Act/Rules/Regulations | Notification Date & Gazette No. |
|---|---|---|
| (i). | The Major Ports Authorities Act, 2021 | 29.10.2021 vide G. No. 4504 (E) |
| (ii). | The Major Ports Adjudicatory Board Rules, 2023 | 17.01.2023 vide G.No.29 |
The above mentioned Act/ Rules are hosted on the website of the Adjudicatory Board, which can be downloaded free of charge.
ii).Until the ABMP Regulations are made, the corresponding regulations of Tariff Authority for Major Ports continue to apply in ABMP as per Rule 69 of the Major Ports Adjudicatory Board Rules, 2023.
5. Rules, Regulations, Instructions, Manuals and Records held by it or under its control or used by its employees for discharge of its functions :-
As per Rule 69 of the Major Ports Adjudicatory Board Rules, 2023, until the ABMP Regulations are notified, the corresponding regulations of Tariff Authority for Major Ports shall continue to apply in ABMP. Accordingly, for administrative control, the Adjudicatory Board follows the following Regulations, which are primarily based on the corresponding Central Government Rules in regard to the service conditions of the employees:-
- Tariff Authority for Major Ports (Transaction of Business) Regulations, 1998.
- Tariff Authority for Major Ports (Conduct) Regulations, 2001
- Tariff Authority for Major Ports (Classification, Control and Appeal) Regulations, 2001
- Tariff Authority for Major Ports (Temporary Service) Regulations, 2001
- Tariff Authority for Major Ports (Leave) Regulations, 2001
- Tariff Authority for Major Ports (Leave Travel Concession) Regulations, 2001
- Tariff Authority for Major Ports (Livery) Regulations, 2001
- Tariff Authority for Major Ports (Joining Time) Regulations, 2001
- Tariff Authority for Major Ports (Traveling Allowance and Daily Allowance) Regulations, 2001
- Tariff Authority for Major Ports (Recruitment to Group ‘B’ Posts) Regulations, 2001
- Tariff Authority for Major Ports (Recruitment to Group ‘C’ & ‘D’ Posts) Regulations, 2001
- Tariff Authority for Major Ports (Medical Attendance and Treatment) Regulation, 2004
Wherever specific Regulations are not separately notified, the relevant rules and instructions of the Central Government will apply.
The ABMP maintains records of all the cases in which orders are passed and hosted on its website. These files contain all the record from the receipt of the case till issue of the orders.
6. Categories of Documents held by the Authority:
The ABMP maintains records of all the cases in which orders are passed and hosted on its website. These files contain all the record from the receipt of the case till issue of the orders.
7. Arrangement for consultation with public in relation to formulation of policy or implementation:
The role and functions of the Adjudicatory Board does not envisage consultation with individual users or public. The Adjudicatory Board, however, consults Major port Authorities, terminal operators operating in Major Ports, the Government, different Chambers of Commerce and Industries, Representative Bodies of port users and major port organizations of the concerned Major Ports or Private Terminal Operators, wherever necessary.
8. Statement of boards, councils, committees and other bodies consisting of two or more persons constituted as its part or for the purpose of its advise, and as to whether the meetings those boards, councils, committees and other bodies are open to public, or the minutes of such meetings are accessible for public:
The ABMP is empowered under Rule 78 of the Major Ports Adjudicatory Board Rules, 2023 to take the assistance of any Major Port or other institutions, consultants, advisors, experts, including legal experts, chartered accountants, surveyor and such other technical and professional persons, as it may consider necessary on payment, if any, of reasonable fee and ask them to submit reports or furnish any information.
9. Directory of the Presiding Officer, Members, Officers and employees of the Adjudicatory Board.
A] Presiding Officers & Members of the Major Ports Adjudicatory Board
| Sr. No. | Designation | Name | Telephone | Fax | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Presiding Officer | Justice Ashish Jitendra Desai | 23792001/23792000 | - | adjudicatoryboard@gmail.com |
| 2. | Member-1 | Shri Chirravuri Viswanath | 23792003/23792000 | - | adjudicatoryboard@gmail.com |
| 3. | Member-2 | Dr. Sanjeev Ranjan | 23792004/23792000 | - | adjudicatoryboard@gmail.com |
B] Officers and employees of the Adjudicatory Board:
| Sr. No. | Designation | Name | Telephone | Fax | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Director | Smt Anuradha H. Sharma | 23792002 | 022-23757879 | director1@tariffauthority.gov.in |
| 2 | Smt Jyothi Venkatachalam | 23792005 | director-2@tariffauthority.gov.in | ||
| 3 | Deputy Director | Shri Ambati Ramesh | 23792007 | ddo@tariffauthority.gov.in | |
| 4 | Administrative Officer | Shri Randhir Kumar | 23792013 | ao@tariffauthority.gov.in | |
| 5 | Assistant Director | Shri Sandesh Sawant (On Deputation Basis) | 23792000 | adjudicatoryboard@gmail.com | |
| 6 | (On Contract Basis) | 23792009 | ad-it@tariffauthority.gov.in | ||
| 7 | Section Officer | Smt Sujata Gaikwad | 23792008 | so@tariffauthority.gov.in | |
| 8 | Private Secretary | Shri G.V.S.Prasad | 23792004 | adjudicatoryboard@gmail.com | |
| 9 | Smt Laila V.Rodrigues | 23792003 | |||
| 10 | Smt Nandini Lad | 23792002 | |||
| 11 | Assistant | Shri Sunil Kumar | 23792000 | ||
| 12 | Shri Rajkiran P. Phadatare (On Deputation Basis) | 23792000 | |||
| 13 | Steno –C /P.A | Smt Anita Teli | 23792000 | ||
| 14 | Junior Hindi Translator | Shri S.S.Rao | 23792000 | ||
| 15 | Steno Grade D | (On Contract Basis) | 23792000 | ||
| 16 | U.D.C. | Shri Akhilesh Giri | 23792000 | ||
| 17 | Shri Swapnil Pawar | 23792000 | |||
| 18 | LDC/Clerk/Typist | Shri Surinder Chand | 23792000 | ||
| 19 | Shri Sunil Dhawade | 23792000 | |||
| 20 | Shri Sushil Bansode | 23792000 | |||
| 21 | Staff Car Driver | Shri R.D.Chauhan | 23792000 | ||
| 22 | MTS | Shri Yogesh Pawar | 23792000 | ||
| 23 | Shri Yuvraj Pawar | 23792000 |
10. Monthly remuneration of its officers and employees including the system of Compensation.
The salaries and allowances payable to and other conditions of service of Presiding Officer and the other Members shall be such as prescribed in the Major Ports Adjudicatory Rules 2023 by the Central Government. These Rules are available at the website of Adjudicatory Board for Major Ports.
A] Presiding Officers & Members of the Major Ports Adjudicatory Board
| Sr. No. | Name | Designation | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Justice Ashish Jitendra Desai | Presiding Officer | 18 |
| 2. | Shri. Chirravuri Viswanath | Member-1 | 17 |
| 3. | Dr. Sanjeev Ranjan | Member-2 | 17 |
B] Officers and employees of the Adjudicatory Board:
| Sr. No. | Name | Designation | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Director | Smt Anuradha H. Sharma | 13A |
| 2. | Smt Jyothi Venkatachalam | 13 | |
| 3. | Deputy Director | Shri Ambati Ramesh | 11 |
| 4. | Administrative Officer | Shri Randhir Kumar | 10 |
| 5. | Assistant Director | Shri Sandesh Sawant (On Deputation Basis) | 10 |
| 6. | Section Officer | Smt. Sujata Gaikwad | 7 |
| 7. | Private Secretary | Shri G.V.S.Prasad | 8 |
| 8. | Smt Laila V.Rodrigues | 7 | |
| 9. | Smt Nandini Lad | 7 | |
| 10. | Assistant | Shri Sunil Kumar | 6 |
| 11. | Shri Rajkiran P. Phadatare (On Deputation Basis) | 6 | |
| 12. | Steno –C /P.A | Smt Anita Teli | 6 |
| 13. | Junior Hindi Translator | Shri S.S.Rao | 6 |
| 14. | U.D.C. | Shri Akhilesh Giri | 4 |
| 15. | Shri Swapnil Pawar | 4 | |
| 16. | LDC/Clerk/Typist | Shri Surinder Chand | 3 |
| 17. | Shri Sunil Dhawade | 2 | |
| 18. | Shri Sushil Bansode | 2 | |
| 19. | Staff Car Driver | Shri R.D.Chauhan | 3 |
| 20. | MTS | Shri Yogesh Pawar | 2 |
| 21. | Shri Yuvraj Pawar | 1 |
11. Budget allocated to each of its agency, indicating the particulars of all plans, proposed expenditures and reports on expenditures made:
The Major Ports Adjudicatory Board has no agency. The Adjudciatory Board is allocated funds under planned expenditure. The funds received are in the form of Grants in-Aid from Central Government.
12. Manner of execution of subsidy programs, including the amounts allocated and the details of beneficiaries of such programs:
There are no subsidiary programs of this Adjudicatory Board.
13. Particulars of recipients of concessions, permits or authorizations granted by it:
There are no concessions, permits or authorizations granted by it.
14. Details in respect of the information, available to or held by it, reduced in an electric form:
The orders passed by the Major Ports Adjudicatory Board are hosted on the website of the Board. The website of the Major Ports Adjudicatory Board can be accessed without any payment of fees/ subscription.
15. Particulars of facilities available to citizens for obtaining information, including working hours of library or reading room, if maintained for public use:
The Authority does not maintain any library room or a reading room for public use. However, inspection of the records is available for inspections as per Rule 59 and 60 of the Major Ports Adjudicatory Board, Rules 2023. The parties or their authorised representative may be allowed to inspect the record of the case on making an application in writing to the Registrar.
16. Names, Designation and Other particulars of the Public Information Officer and First Appellate Authority
| NAME | DESIGNATION | ADDRESS, & EMAIL ID | TelePhone No. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smt Sandesh Sawant | Assistant Director | Adjudicatory Board for Major Ports, 4th Floor, Bhandar Bhavan, M.P.Road, Mazgaon,Mumbai 400 010. adjudicatoryboard@gmail.com | 022-23792000 |
