Kochi bench of Armed Forces Tribunal set up

With the establishment of an Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) bench here today, the total number of benches in the country has become seven.
 
Speaking after inaugurating the bench, AFT chairman justice AK Mathur said the bench here would hear cases from Kerala, Karnataka and Lakshadweep Islands. The Guwahati and Mumbai benches would be established soon, he said.
 
Kerala High Court chief justice SR Bannurmath said 134 cases would be transferred to the Tribunal.
 
The AFT, which came into existence under Armed Forces Tribunal Act 2007, has been given original and appellate jurisdiction. It could hear and decide grievances of service matters of remuneration, retirement benefits, tenure, appointments, seniority, promotion among others, a defence press release said.
 
Pending matters would be transferred from respective high courts to the tribunal, it said.
 
It will have the power to grant bail to persons placed in military custody. However, there would be no right of appeal against decisions given in summary court martial proceedings unless the punishment exceeds imprisonment of three months, the release said.
 
The Tribunal has its principal bench in New Delhi.
 
Vice Admiral KN Sushil, flag officer commanding in chief of the Southern Naval Command, and justice K Padmanabhan Nair, judicial member of the bench here were also present.
 
A felicitation message from defence minister AK Antony was also read out.