The Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) Chennai Bar Association has recently joined the ranks of lawyers' associations registering their protest against the decision to transfer judicial member, Justice Dharam Chand Chaudhary, from the Chandigarh bench of AFT to the Kolkata bench.
In a letter addressed to Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud on September 27, the AFT Chennai bar association expressed its strong disapproval, shock, and disbelief regarding the decision made by the AFT chairperson to transfer Justice Chaudhary.
The bar association condemned this decision, labeling it as an assault by the Union Ministry of Defence (MoD) and an interference in the AFT's judicial operations. Furthermore, the association emphasized that this move directly undermines the independence of the judiciary.
"We are deeply troubled to learn that he has been transferred out of AFT Chandigarh on 25.09.2023, with less than 12 hours given to comply with the orders," the letter further stated.
The letter also expressed concern over the fact that three judicial members of AFT Chandigarh and all execution petitions before the bench have been unilaterally shifted to the principal bench of the AFT.
The association urged the CJI to thoroughly investigate the matter and ensure that a misleading message is not conveyed to the soldiers of the armed forces and their dependents.
"Sir, needless to say, all the members of our Armed Forces Tribunal Chennai Bar Association STAND IN SOLIDARITY with our Brethren at Chandigarh for the cause of upholding the RESPECT, INTEGRITY & THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE JUDICIARY (sic)," the letter added.
Earlier this month, the chairperson of the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) made the decision to transfer judicial member Justice Dharam Chand Chaudhary from the Chandigarh bench to the Kolkata bench of the tribunal. This transfer was made on the grounds of administrative reasons and in the interest of the public.
The AFT Bar Association at Chandigarh promptly expressed their disapproval of this transfer by sending a strongly worded letter to the Chief Justice of India on September 25.
In this letter, the Chandigarh bar association alleged that Justice Chaudhary's transfer was a direct result of the strict orders he had issued against senior government officials of the Ministry of Defense (MoD).
On the same day, the association also decided to indefinitely abstain from work as a means of protest.
Following this, the AFT bar associations at Jammu and Lucknow also expressed their support for the AFT Chandigarh Bar Association's objection to the transfer of Justice Chaudhary.
Since then, additional bar associations have joined in supporting the AFT Chandigarh Bar Association's protest by passing resolutions against the transfer.
These associations include the District Bar Associations in Chandigarh, Panchkula, and Kurukshetra, as well as the Veteran Air Warrior Association in Haryana.
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TAGS: AFT ARMED FORCES TRIBUNAL BAR ASSOCIATION RMED FORCES TRIBUNAL BAR ASSOCIATION JUSTICE DHARAM CHAND CHAUDHARY
