Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT): Features, State-wise locations & juristiction

The Government has established the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) to deal with complaints of the defence personnel and provide a forum for appeal.  To provide adjudication of disputes / complaints with respect to conditions of service in respect of the persons covered under the Army Act, 1950, the Navy Act, 1957 and the Air Force Act, 1950 and also to provide for appeals arising out of orders of court martial. Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) functions under the AFT Act, 2007

NO. 4480 FOR ANSWER ON 22.4.2013

Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) and its Territorial Jurisdiction:

 

Sl. No.	Location of Regional Bench	Date of operationalisation	Territorial Jurisdiction
1.	Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT), Principal Bench	10.8.2009	New Delhi.
2.	Lucknow	09.11.2009	States of Uttar Pradesh,Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
3.	Chandigarh	16.11.2009	States of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and UT of Chandigarh.
4.	Chennai	26.10.2009	States of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Union Territory of Puducherry.
5.	Jaipur	03.11.2009	State of Rajasthan.
6.	Kolkata	23.11.2009	States of West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand,Odisha and Union Territory of Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
7.	Kochi	07.12.2009	States of Kerala, Karnataka and Union Territory of Lakshadweep.
8.	Guwahati	31.07.2010	States of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura & Sikkim.
9.	Mumbai	09.06.2011	States of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa and the Union Territories of Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli.

Orders of AFT are complied with by the Government except in the cases wherein appeal is contemplated as per the provisions of the AFT Act, 2007.

The Government proposes to extend powers of civil contempt to the AFT.  The AFT (Amendment) Bill, 2012 has been introduced in the Parliament which inter-alia includes the provision for grant of powers of civil contempt to the AFT.

The above information was submitted by MoD in reply of undermentioned Lok Sabha Questions:-

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 4480

ANSWERED ON   22.04.2013

ARMED FORCES TRIBUNAL

4480 . Shri MUNDE GOPINATHRAO PANDURANG, C. SIVASAMI
Will the Minister of DEFENCE be pleased to state:-

(a) whether the Government has established the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) to deal with complaints of the defence personnel and provide a forum for appeal; 

(b) if so, the main features thereof, and the manner in which the said tribunal will function; 

(c) the State-wise locations where the said tribunal has started functioning; 

(d) whether the orders of AFT are not being implemented despite its having the status of a High Court; 

(e) if so, the reasons therefor; 

(f) whether the Government proposes to extend powers of civil contempt to the AFT; and 

(g) if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF DEFENCE (SHRI A.K. ANTONY)

(a) Yes, Madam.
(b) To provide adjudication of disputes / complaints with respect to conditions of service in respect of the persons covered under the Army Act, 1950, the Navy Act, 1957 and the Air Force Act, 1950 and also to provide for appeals arising out of orders of court martial. Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) functions under the AFT Act, 2007.
(c) As per Annexure.

(d) & (e): Orders of AFT are complied with by the Government except in the cases wherein appeal is contemplated as per the provisions of the AFT Act, 2007. 

(f) Yes, Madam. 

(g) The AFT (Amendment) Bill, 2012 has been introduced in the Parliament which inter-alia includes the provision for grant of powers of civil contempt to the AFT. 

Source: Lok Sabha Q&A qref=139115

Annexure Link: http://164.100.47.132/Annexture/lsq15/13/au4480.htm

(Source-Central Govt Employees news)