2 months ago
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The Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) is grappling with 11,097 pending cases—nearly 24.9% of the full 44,622 cases registered implicit the past 5 years—alongside aggregate vacancies crossed its Benches, raising concerns implicit timely justness delivery.
The Ministry of Defence connected Monday (March 30, 2026) informed the Rajya Sabha that 44,622 cases were filed earlier the AFT betwixt 2021 and January 2026, of which 33,525 cases person been disposed of.
According to Ministry data, respective determination Benches—including Srinagar (Jammu), Jabalpur, and Guwahati—are functioning with 2 vacant positions each, portion others similar Chandigarh, Lucknow, Kochi, Chennai, and Kolkata besides study vacancies.
Despite dependable disposals, the backlog remains significant. Year-wise information shows fluctuations successful pendency, with 3,431 cases pending successful 2021, dropping to 534 successful 2023, earlier rising again to 2,795 successful 2025. As of aboriginal 2026, 406 cases are pending, based connected partial-year data.
On the administrative side, the AFT’s Principal Bench successful New Delhi is afloat staffed, including the Chairperson, but respective determination Benches are operating beneath sanctioned strength. The shortage of judicial and administrative members is seen arsenic a cardinal origin impacting the tribunal’s efficiency. The authorities did not specify timelines for filling the vacancies but acknowledged the Bench-wise staffing gaps successful its response.
The ATF was constituted nether the Armed Forces Tribunal Act 2007 to adjudicate disputes and complaints related to commission, appointments, enrolments and conditions of work successful respect of persons taxable to the Army Act, 1950, the Navy Act, 1957 and the Air Force Act, 1950. It besides hears appeals against court-martial orders, findings oregon sentences.
