On Monday, the Supreme Court of India addressed the high workload of the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT). It proposed establishing more circuit benches in several places, such as Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. Justice Surya Kant and NK Singh's bench were hearing a petition on the difficulties encountered by numerous tribunals across India, including the AFT. The Court emphasised the need for more benches to minimise caseloads and eliminate unnecessary travel for plaintiffs.

The Supreme Court recommended,  “See if there can be a regional bench. For Shimla, etc., matters can go to Himachal,” suggesting the installation of more seats to help individuals in outlying places.

As part of the court proceedings, the Supreme Court requested that the central government look into creating new benches and offering an update on vacancies in current tribunals. The Court also asked the government to provide information on the status of the current selection procedure and the phases of confirmation for judicial posts in these tribunals.

The Armed Forces Tribunal, established in 2009, only hears cases involving members of the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. However, the limited number of AFT benches across the country has frequently resulted in a backlog of cases, causing delays in justice delivery for serving and retired personnel.

Senior Advocate Vikas Singh expressed concern regarding vacant tribunal slots at the hearing. "One judge was transferred from Chandigarh, and no one else was appointed," Singh said, emphasising the backlog in filling jobs.

The Court also asked for insights from the government regarding the pending cases before the AFT and the need for new benches to meet the expanding burden. The Attorney General of India, R. Venkataramani, responded by stating that the AFT chairman could manage administrative decisions regarding the setting up of circuit benches. He told the Court that the administration was actively trying to replace the existing vacancies.

The case, which deals with fundamental concerns involving the operation of tribunals and the administration of justice, will be reconsidered in six weeks, enabling the government to adopt reforms and improvements indicated by the Court.

With the introduction of circuit benches, the Supreme Court aims to alleviate the burden on existing AFT infrastructure while ensuring justice for armed forces personnel is both timely and accessible.