Section 13 of the Armed Forces Tribunal Act, 2007: Staff of the Tribunal

Section 13 of the Armed Forces Tribunal Act, 2007 provides the statutory framework for officers and other employees who assist the Armed Forces Tribunal in discharging its functions. It places responsibility on the Central Government to determine staffing requirements, permits service conditions to be prescribed by rules, and makes Tribunal staff subject to the general superintendence of the Chairperson.

Current-law position: Section 13 remains part of the current AFT Act. The Armed Forces Tribunal also publishes recruitment rules for its staff, including separate recruitment-rule material for Group A and B posts and Group C posts. Current vacancies are published through the official AFT website.

What does Section 13 of the AFT Act, 2007 provide?

Section 13(1): The Central Government determines the nature and categories of officers and other employees required to assist the Tribunal and provides such officers and employees as it considers fit.

Section 13(2): Salaries, allowances and other terms and conditions of service of Tribunal officers and employees are to be prescribed.

Section 13(3): Officers and other employees of the Tribunal discharge their functions under the general superintendence of the Chairperson.

Meaning of "Staff of the Tribunal"

Section 13 deals with the administrative personnel who support the functioning of the Armed Forces Tribunal. These officers and employees are distinct from the Chairperson and Members who exercise adjudicatory functions. Their role is to provide the institutional, registry, administrative and other support necessary for the Tribunal and its Benches to function.

Role of the Central Government

Under Section 13(1), the Central Government determines both the nature of the posts required and the categories of personnel needed by the Tribunal. The provision therefore gives the Central Government responsibility for establishing and providing the staffing structure required for the AFT.

Section 13 issue	Legal position
Staffing requirements	The Central Government determines the nature and categories of officers and employees required to assist the Tribunal.
Provision of staff	The Central Government provides the Tribunal with officers and employees as it considers appropriate.
Salary and allowances	Pay, allowances and other service conditions are governed by prescribed rules and applicable service provisions.
Administrative supervision	Tribunal officers and employees work under the general superintendence of the Chairperson.

Recruitment rules for AFT staff

The official Armed Forces Tribunal website publishes recruitment-rule material for staff posts. The AFT Act and Rules page includes separate recruitment rules for Group A and B posts and for Group C posts. Recruitment or engagement for particular posts may therefore depend on the applicable recruitment rules, vacancy circular and mode of appointment for that post.

The official AFT vacancies page also publishes vacancy circulars for posts at the Principal Bench and Regional Benches, including appointments on deputation, absorption or consultancy where applicable to the notified vacancy.

Who prescribes staff service conditions?

Section 13(2) states that the salaries and allowances payable to officers and employees, and their other terms and conditions of service, shall be prescribed. Section 41(2)(e) of the AFT Act specifically authorises the Central Government to make rules concerning these matters.

What is the Chairperson's role over staff?

Section 13(3) places Tribunal officers and employees under the general superintendence of the Chairperson. This complements Section 12 - Financial and administrative powers of Chairperson, which deals with prescribed financial and administrative authority over the Benches and permits delegation to Members or officers subject to the Chairperson's direction, control and supervision.

Are AFT staff treated as public servants?

Section 37 of the Armed Forces Tribunal Act provides that the Chairperson, other Members, and the officers and other employees provided to the Tribunal under Section 13 are deemed to be public servants for the purposes specified in that provision.

Key points about Section 13

Section 13 is titled "Staff of the Tribunal".
The Central Government determines the nature and categories of AFT officers and employees.
The Central Government provides the Tribunal with the staff it considers necessary.
Salaries, allowances and other service conditions are prescribed under the statutory rule-making framework.
AFT staff discharge their functions under the Chairperson's general superintendence.
The official AFT website publishes recruitment rules and vacancy circulars for staff posts.
Section 37 treats officers and employees provided under Section 13 as public servants for the purposes of that provision.

Section 13 should be read with Section 12 - Financial and administrative powers, Section 14 - Jurisdiction in service matters, and Section 37 dealing with the public-servant status of Members and Tribunal staff.

Official legal resources

Law reviewed and article updated: 7 September 2026.