Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT)

In News

• The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has recently approved appointments to fill 23 vacancies, including 11 as judicial members and 12 as administrative members, in the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT).

About Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT)

• Legislature
  • The Armed Forces Tribunal Act 2007, was passed by the Parliament and led to the formation of AFT.
  • The Tribunal shall transact their proceedings as per the Armed Forces Tribunal (Procedure) rules, 2008. 
• Functions
  • It has the power provided for the adjudication or trial by Armed Forces Tribunal of disputes and complaints with respect to commission, appointments, enrolments and conditions of service in respect of persons subject to the Army Act, 1950, The Navy Act, 1957 and the Air Force Act, 1950.
  • It can further provide for appeals arising out of orders, findings or sentences of courts- martial held under the said Acts and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
• Bench
  • Besides the Principal Bench in New Delhi, AFT has Regional Benches at Chandigarh, Lucknow, Kolkata, Guwahati, Chennai, Kochi, Mumbai, Jabalpur, Srinagar and Jaipur.
• Appointments
  • The Judicial Members are retired High Court Judges and Administrative Members are retired Members of the Armed Forces who have held the rank of Major General/ equivalent or above for a period of three years or more.
  • Judge Advocate General (JAG) who have held the appointment for at least one year are also entitled to be appointed as the Administrative Member.
• Other features
  • All proceedings in the Tribunal will be in English. 
  • The Tribunal will normally follow the procedure as is practiced in the High Courts of India.

Source: IE