Armed Forces Tribunal to start functioning from July

New Delhi, Apr 17 (UNI) A Parliamentary Committee has expressed the hope that the Armed Forces Tribunal would commence functioning from July this year.

The Tribunal would help in speedy disposal of cases pertaining to the armed forces.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence in its latest report tabled in Parliament yesterday said an allocation of Rs 6.09 crore had been made during 2008-09 for the Tribunal.

It expressed the hope that the Tribunal would commence functioning in July this year as scheduled and render speedy justice to the service personnel.

The Committee said it would like to be apprised of the progress made by the government in this regard.

When the Parliamentary Committee asked about the status of the Tribunal, a Defence Ministry official said: ''The Armed Forces Tribunal Act was passed in December 2007. Rules are being framed for this. They are still to come into force. One is procedure and practice of the court. That we have sent to the Law Ministry for consideration and it is being vetted there. By the month of June or July, we hope that it will be implemented.'' UNI AG HS PM1240