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The Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) is grappling with 11,097 pending cases—nearly 24.9% of the total 44,622 cases registered over the past five years—alongside multiple vacancies across its Benches, raising concerns over timely justice delivery.
The Ministry of Defence on Monday (March 30, 2026) informed the Rajya Sabha that 44,622 cases were filed before the AFT between 2021 and January 2026, of which 33,525 cases have been disposed of.
According to Ministry data, several regional Benches—including Srinagar (Jammu), Jabalpur, and Guwahati—are functioning with two vacant positions each, while others like Chandigarh, Lucknow, Kochi, Chennai, and Kolkata also report vacancies.
Despite steady disposals, the backlog remains significant. Year-wise data shows fluctuations in pendency, with 3,431 cases pending in 2021, dropping to 534 in 2023, before rising again to 2,795 in 2025. As of early 2026, 406 cases are pending, based on partial-year data.
On the administrative side, the AFT’s Principal Bench in New Delhi is fully staffed, including the Chairperson, but several regional Benches are operating below sanctioned strength. The shortage of judicial and administrative members is seen as a key factor impacting the tribunal’s efficiency. The government did not specify timelines for filling the vacancies but acknowledged the Bench-wise staffing gaps in its response.
The ATF was constituted under the Armed Forces Tribunal Act 2007 to adjudicate disputes and complaints related to commission, appointments, enrolments and conditions of service in respect of persons subject to the Army Act, 1950, the Navy Act, 1957 and the Air Force Act, 1950. It also hears appeals against court-martial orders, findings or sentences.
Published – March 30, 2026 08:56 pm IST
