Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 28

Averring that the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) has failed in achieving its objectives to provide an effective judicial forum to aggrieved soldiers due to faulty composition and vested interests, veterans have called for an overhaul of the existing system.In a letter written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi today, Saviours of Human Rights for Armed Forces Personnel (SHRAF) has stated that unlike the Central Administrative Tribunal that deals in only administrative matters, the AFT in addition to such issues also handles criminal appeals and a review of trial evidence, which requires knowledge and experience of criminal law, criminal jurisprudence and the evidence Act.Administrative members of the AFT, who are retired senior armed forces officers, do not possess such qualifications and appointing them to decide criminal matters involving inter-woven questions of law and facts is nothing but fraud with the judicial system, the letter states.Pointing out that hundreds of cases are listed daily in the AFT only to be adjourned due to non-availability of members, adding to the suffering of soldiers and veterans, SHRAF has demanded that only judicial members, who are retired judges, should constitute an AFT Bench and the posts of administrative members be abolished. Also, the number of benches should be increased.

Wants retired judges on Bench

• In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Saviours of Human Rights for Armed Forces Personnel has stated that AFT members do not possess knowledge of criminal law, criminal jurisprudence and the evidence Act
• It has demanded that only retired judges should constitute an AFT Bench and the posts of administrative members be abolished. Also, the number of Benches should be increased