The Supreme Court has called for responses from the central government and other authorities regarding a writ petition filed by the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) bar association based in Lucknow. The petition seeks the expeditious filling of vacancies within the AFT and the continuation of serving members until new appointments are finalized.
Petition Details
The petition, submitted under Article 32 of the Constitution by AFT bar association president Kamal Kumar Singh Bisht, urges the government to complete the selection process and fill all vacant posts in the tribunal within a stipulated timeframe, in accordance with Section 5 of the Armed Forces Tribunal Act, 2007.
Supreme Court's Response
On May 4, the Supreme Court issued a notice on the petition and requested the Attorney General for India to assist the court in adjudicating the matter. The case was subsequently listed before a three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice Vipul M Pancholi.
During the hearing, counsel Syed Hasan Isfahani and S M Mustafa, representing the AFT bar association, submitted that if vacancies remain unfilled, only three of the tribunal's 11 benches would remain functional by the end of the year. This would severely impact access to justice for serving and retired armed forces personnel. The bench directed the Attorney General to ensure that judicial and administrative members of the AFT whose tenure is due to expire before September 2026 are not disturbed until then, in line with an earlier Supreme Court order concerning tribunal appointments. The matter has been listed for an admission hearing on July 13, 2026.
Dharam Raj Singh, secretary of the AFT bar association, stated, "The order effectively extends the tenure of retiring AFT members, including Justice Anil Kumar of the Lucknow Bench, until September 2026."
About the Author
Arvind Chauhan – When he's not chasing stories, you’ll likely find him exploring food lanes, indulging in mutton delicacies and sundaes. He is a journalist with a can-do spirit and a flair for compelling storytelling. From railways and aviation to defence, infrastructure, social development and various other diverse beats, his reportage reflects depth. His work has earned him the Times Scribe Award four times.
