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Monday, November 22, 2010

Forces Tribunal Toothless, says Bench Head

Ajay Sura, TNN, Nov 21, 2010, 07.15am IST
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The Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) is a toothless body. And none other than head of its principal bench, Justice (retd) AK Mathur, says it. Justice Mathur, who was in Chandigarh on Saturday on the occasion of completion of one year of the Chandigarh bench of AFT, said that they are striving for execution of orders passed by them against army authorities after deciding the petitions of aggrieved defence personnel.
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He also informed that in last one year the tribunal has decided around 4000 cases of the armed forced personnel and orders in 90 per cent of these cases were against the authorities, but they, specially army, is not bothering to comply with the tribunal's orders. The revelation of the head of country's highest military tribunal are startling in view of the recent orders of the Supreme court for constituting Forces Grievances Redressal Commission with powers 'recommendatory in nature'.
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The revelations of Justice Mathur put a question mark over the fate of the upcoming commission. While delivering lecture on the occasion, Justice Mathur stated that he had written to the Union government for empowering the tribunal with execution powers and to hear summary court martial proceedings so that the real purpose of constituting AFT can be served. He said, "we want powers to make pressure on the authorities to redress the grievances of the soldiers and to remove the arbitrariness in the authority's decisions".
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Justice Mathur also informed that despite tribunal orders widows are struggling to get family pension, but the army brass is biggest hindrance in granting execution powers for the AFT. "Attitude of the army has to change, as the 'generals' should understand that tomorrow they may have to knock the AFT door for their grievances," Mathur added. Justice Mathur also recounted various instances where he had to face difficulties to get a portion of building from the defence authorities for setting up of the regional benches of the tribunal. Read more:


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3 comments:

  1. As I've have been saying our own - Military Bureaucracy is as bad, if not worse, than the Civil Bureaucracy.

    However, whenever a military leader is accused of any wrong doing, most veterans come to his defence as they know the case personally. Fatwas are passed not to circulate such reports.

    Do read what Justice Mathur has to say.

    Sad indeed. Jayai toh jayai kahaa.

    Rgds

    B Bates

    ReplyDelete
  2. Dear All

    Would someone like to send it to as many serving Generals as possible.

    This should be up up by IESM and all ESM organisations at all public places loke the CSD and clubs.

    Shame them into acceptance of truth.

    Brgds

    Pathak

    ReplyDelete
  3. Dear All,

    This was the ultimate truth into the entire saga from beginning till date, that I was waiting to prove that most of us had blinkers on all throughout, with a simultaneous denial.

    Negativity spread in this group, from time to time was for everyone to see what was lying ahead for all of us veterans.

    What a waste of 2 1/2 years.

    Regards.

    VPS

    ReplyDelete