Context:
The Supreme Court has recently suggested establishing Benches of the Armed Forces Tribunal in Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh to tackle the increasing backlog of defence-related cases in these areas.
Armed Forces Tribunal:
- Military tribunal in India
- Established in 2009 under the Armed Forces Tribunal Act, 2007.
- Adjudicates disputes and complaints related to:
- Commission, appointments, enrolment, and service conditions under the Army Act, 1950, Navy Act, 1957, and Air Force Act, 1950.
- Appeals from orders, findings, or sentences of courts-martial under the said Acts.Handles matters connected or incidental to these disputes.
- Authority to dismiss appeals if findings of the court-martial are justified.
- Principal, Regional, and Circuit Benches:
| Aspect | Principal Bench | Regional Bench | Circuit Bench |
| Type | Permanent | Permanent | Temporary |
| Location | New Delhi | Chandigarh, Lucknow, Kolkata, Guwahati, Chennai, Kochi, Mumbai, Jabalpur, Srinagar, and Jaipur. | Periodic locations |
| Jurisdiction | National | Regional | Specific localized regions |
| Purpose | Administrative and judicial. Central authority for the administration and coordination of other benches. | Regional access to justice | Address backlog or pendency |
- Appeals Against AFT Decisions: Can only be taken up in the Supreme Court of India.
- Composition of Each Bench:
- Judicial Member: Retired High Court Judges.
- Administrative Member: Retired members of the Armed Forces who have:
- Held the rank of Major General (or equivalent) or above for at least three years.
- Served as Judge Advocate General (JAG) for a minimum of one year.
- Functioning of AFT:
- Proceedings conducted as per the Armed Forces Tribunal (Procedure) Rules, 2008.
- All proceedings held in English.
- Procedures similar to those practiced in the High Courts of India.
Source: TH
Previous Year Question
In India, which of the following review the independent regulators in sectors like telecommunications, insurance, electricity, etc.?
1. Ad Hoc Committees set up by the Parliament
2. Parliamentary Department Related Standing Committees
3. Finance Commission
4. Financial Sector Legislative Reforms Commission
5. NITI Aayog
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
[UPSC Civil Service Exam – 2019 Prelims]
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1, 3 and 4 only
(c) 3, 4 and 5 only
(d) 2 and 5 only
Answer: (a)