Armed Forces Tribunal Faces 205 Staff Shortages

The Armed Forces Tribunal, responsible for delivering justice to service personnel and veterans, is facing a severe shortage of members and staff across its benches. According to Defence Ministry data, there are 12 vacant posts for tribunal members and a total shortage of 205 administrative and support staff members across its principal bench and 10 regional benches nationwide.

The statistics were disclosed by the Minister of State for Defence in a written reply to a Lok Sabha question. The data revealed widespread vacancies across both the judicial and administrative wings of the tribunal system. The Armed Forces Tribunal adjudicates service conditions, pay disputes, promotions, pensions, and appeals against court-martial verdicts for personnel subject to the Army Act, Navy Act, and Air Force Act.

Defence experts point out that prolonged vacancies, particularly in regional benches with zero judicial members, risk accumulating backlogs and delaying legal redress for serving personnel, ex-servicemen, and military families. Several regional benches are currently operating without a single member, including Srinagar, Jabalpur, and Guwahati, which have zero serving members against two sanctioned posts each.

The principal bench in New Delhi, Mumbai, and Jaipur currently have no vacant positions for judicial or administrative members. However, staff shortages have hit the hardest at the principal bench and key regional benches. The operational functioning of the tribunal is heavily impacted by support staff vacancies, totaling 205 vacant positions across all benches.

The Principal Bench in New Delhi faces the highest burden, with 38 vacant staff positions against a current operational strength of 65. The Lucknow bench follows with 31 vacancies against a current strength of 57, and Chandigarh has 26 vacant posts against a current strength of 63. The Mumbai regional bench is currently functioning with a staff strength of 33, but is short by 12 personnel.

The Guwahati bench faces severe administrative strain, reporting 22 staff vacancies against an active staff strength of just 12, meaning nearly two-thirds of its administrative support positions remain unfilled. The shortage of staff and members is likely to affect the tribunal's ability to deliver speedy justice to service personnel and veterans.

The Armed Forces Tribunal plays a crucial role in adjudicating disputes and appeals related to service personnel and veterans. The tribunal's effectiveness is essential for ensuring that the rights of service personnel and veterans are protected. The shortage of staff and members is a matter of concern, and it is essential that the vacancies are filled at the earliest to ensure that the tribunal can function efficiently.

The Defence Ministry's data highlights the need for urgent attention to address the shortage of staff and members in the Armed Forces Tribunal. The government must take immediate action to fill the vacancies and ensure that the tribunal has the necessary resources to function effectively. This is essential for ensuring that service personnel and veterans receive the justice they deserve in a timely manner.

In conclusion, the Armed Forces Tribunal is facing a severe shortage of members and staff, which is likely to affect its ability to deliver speedy justice to service personnel and veterans. The government must take urgent action to address the shortage and ensure that the tribunal has the necessary resources to function effectively.