'Armed Forces Tribunal Act in next Par session'

New Delhi, Dec 23: The Armed Forces Tribunal Act is being finalised and would be passed in the next Parliament session, Defence Minister A K Antony said today.

''It is in the final stages and would be cleared in the next session of Parliament,'' Mr Antony told a press conference after giving away one president's tatrakshak medal and ten tatrakshak medals at the Coast Guard investiture ceremony here.

The Law Commission, in its 169th Report, had recommended the setting up of an Armed Forces Tribunal for adjudicating service matters.

The tribunal is expected to provide an effective grievance redressal system against a backdrop of increasing number of suicides among soldiers due to mental stress.

UNI