Srinagar, Feb. 6 -- The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) on Thursday directed the Rural Development Department (RDD) to deposit Rs.10 lakh as part of the medical reimbursement claim of its employee who had undergone a liver transplant at a private hospital in Chennai.

The direction was passed after the Director of Finance, RDD Kashmir, declined reimbursement on the grounds that government employees are required to seek treatment at government hospitals or institutions recognised or empanelled by the government as per standard procedure.

After hearing arguments from the petitioner, Bashir Ahmad Pandith and the RDD, Judicial Member M S Latif observed that it had become expedient in the interest of justice to direct the respondents to...