Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 14

Members of the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) Bar Association have written to the Chief Justice of India (CJI) saying that there are supposed to be three courts functional at the Chandigarh AFT Bench, but it is currently without even a single judicial member, due to which the entire work has come to a standstill, leading to serious problems in access to justice for defence personnel and their families.The letter states that the Chandigarh Bench currently functions only for a few days every month when an outstation judicial member on temporary duty from another bench holds court. “Even by this arrangement, fresh cases cannot be listed and fresh or urgent cases filed months ago are taken up for hearing by temporary outstation judicial members,” the letter adds.Bar members have said, “The non-appointment of any judicial member in the Chandigarh Bench is against the statement of the Union of India recorded in the orders of the SC on a similar letter petition filed by the AFT Bar Association’s Delhi chapter.” Seeking immediate appointment of judicial members so as to make the AFT Benches functional, the Bar members have also sought placement of the AFT under the Ministry of Law.