- Vice Admiral Bimal Verma has moved Armed Forces Tribunal for challenging his supersession and appointment of Vice Admiral Karambir Singh as the next Navy Chief.
- The Vice admiral in his petition has asked why he was overlooked as the next Navy chief despite being the senior most in terms of the length of service.He stated that the government has illegally and in a wrongful manner appointed his junior as the next Navy chief.
- Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) is an Indian military tribunal established in 2009 under the Armed Forces Tribunal Act, 2007.Its Principal Bench is in New Delhi.It also has 11 regional benches.
- It’s objective is to adjudicate complaints wrt appointments and conditions of service in respect of persons subject to the (a)Army Act,1950 (b)The Navy Act,1957 and (c)the Air Force Act,1950.It can further provide for appeals arising out of the orders of courts martial held under the above-mentioned Acts.
- The Composition of Armed Forces Tribunal consists of Judicial Members who are retired High Court Judges. Administrative Members are retired Members of the Armed Forces who have held the rank of Major General/ equivalent or above for a period of three years or more.
- Proceedings are conducted as per the Armed Forces Tribunal (Procedure) rules,2008.The Tribunal normally follows the procedure as practiced by High Courts of India.Paramilitary forces including the Assam Rifles and Coast Guard are outside the tribunal’s purview.
