NEW DELHI, May 4, 2026 : Taking serious note of rising vacancies in the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT), the Supreme Court of India on Monday sought responses from the Centre and concerned authorities on a plea demanding time-bound appointments to vacant posts.
A bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi agreed to hear the matter and directed Attorney General R. Venkataramani to assist the court in addressing the issue.
The court also asked the counsel representing the Armed Forces Tribunal Bar Association to submit a copy of the petition to the Attorney General’s office. The matter has been scheduled for further hearing after two weeks.
During the proceedings, the petitioner highlighted a critical concern—that out of 11 benches of the AFT, only three may remain functional by the end of the year if vacancies are not filled promptly. The plea urges the government to expedite the selection process and ensure appointments in accordance with Section 5 of the Armed Forces Tribunal Act, 2007, which governs the composition of the tribunal and its benches.
Additionally, the petition has sought directions to allow existing judicial and administrative members to continue in office—with their consent—until new appointments are made, to prevent disruption in the tribunal’s functioning.
The case underscores growing concerns over judicial vacancies and their impact on timely justice delivery, particularly for armed forces personnel relying on the tribunal for dispute resolution.
