Centre paves way for Tribunal on Armed Forces

New Delhi, Jan 7 (UNI) The Centre has notified the Armed Forces Tribunal Act, 2007 which will pave the way for setting up a tribunal dealing with disputes relating to the personnel of the three services.

The Armed Forces Tribunal Bill 2007, passed by Parliament, received the Presidential assent on December 25, 2007.

Once the Tribunal is constituted, all pending trials before civil courts including the High Courts covered under the Army Act 1950, Navy Act 1957 and the Air Force Act 1950 will stand transferred before the Tribunal. Appeals against the verdicts of court martial can thereafter be made only before the tribunal.

The Act provides for the setting up of the Tribunal's Principal Bench in New Delhi and branches at other places if necessary.

Only a former judge of the Supreme Court or a former chief justice of a High Court can be its chairperson and will hold office for a four-year term.

The Tribunal and its benches, having powers of a High Court, will consist of such number of judicial and administrative members as required.

While judicial members will be retired high court judges, the administrative members will be drawn from the forces, who have served as judge Advocate General for at least one year.

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