ARMED FORCES TRIBUNAL (AFT)

NEWS: The AFT has stayed the retirement of Colonel Shrikant Prasad Purohit, acquitted in the 2008 Malegaon blast case

ABOUT

• It is an Indian Military tribunal established under the Armed Forces Tribunal Act, 2007.
• Nodal Ministryà Ministry of Defence.
• BenchàArmed Forces Tribunal has its Principal Bench at New Delhi & eight Regional Benches at Jaipur, Chandigarh, Lucknow, Guwahati, Kolkata, Chennai, Kochi and Mumbai.
• Compositionà Each bench typically consists of Judicial and Administrative Members.

Appeals & Procedures

• The Tribunal shall transact its proceedings as per the Armed Forces Tribunal (Procedure) rules, 2008.
• Languageà All proceedings in the Tribunal will be in English.
• It is closely aligned with High Court practices, ensuring fairness and transparency.

Functions

• It has been set up to provide for the adjudication or trial of disputes and complaints with respect to commission, appointments, enrolment and conditions of service in respect of person’s subject to The Army Act, 1950, The Navy Act, 1957, and The Air Force Act, 1950.
• Appealsà 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.
• It does not have jurisdiction over paramilitary forces (like the BSF or CRPF).
• It may remit, mitigate, commute, or enhance sentences.
• The Tribunal can grant bail to persons in military custody, with or without conditions