Set up Armed Forces Grievances Redressal Commission : Supreme Court

Source : Indlaw.com

The Supreme Court directed the Union government to set up within two months the Armed Forces Grievances Redressal Commission for speedy disposal of the grievances of the serving and retired servicemen and their family members. 

A bench comprising Justice Markandey Katju and Ms Justice Gyansudha Misra directed that the commission would be headed by a retired Supreme Court Judge and Mr Justice Kuldeep Singh shall be the first chairman. 

The Vice-chairman shall be a retired Chief Justice of a High Court and Justice S S Sodhi shall be the first vice-chairman. 

Retired Army Chief General V P Malik, Lieutenant General Vijay Oberoi (retired Vice Chief of Army Staff) and a civil servant to be appointed by the Centre would be the members. 

The commission office bearers would have tenure of two years, renewable after two years. 

The apex court also directed the commission would also frame and recommend to the Centre a scheme for proper rehabilitation of discharged soldiers who usually retire at the age of 40 years if promoted to the rank of Havildar. 

The apex court also recommended that a discharged soldier should be given alternative employment so that he can support his family and the commission will go into this matter also in detail and suggest appropriate scheme for rehabilitation of ex-army men who also include Air Force and Navy personnel who retire at a relatively young age. 

The commission will have its office in Chandigarh with recommendatory power and all authorities in India civil or military (including the secretary defence and the chiefs of the Army, Navy and Air Force) shall extend all cooperation to the commission to enable it to discharge its functions effectively and the Centre would issue the notification constituting the commission forthwith. 

Directions have been issued on the petition of Pushpavanti who was getting Rs 80 per month as pension after the death of her husband, an Army major who had fought 1948, 1962 and 1965 wars for the country and was a highly decorated officer with 14 medals. In these days a kilogram of Ahrar dal costs Rs 80. 

Her petition automatically stands transferred to the commission for speedy disposal and the next hearing of the case would be on February 7, 2011.


Find the Entire Text of the Judgment here.