In a significant step to ensure timely justice for members of the armed forces and their families, the Uttarakhand High Court has issued a set of special guidelines directing all subordinate courts in the state to prioritise such cases.
The High Court has instructed subordinate courts to identify all pending cases involving serving or retired armed forces personnel and their dependents and dispose of them on a priority basis. The notification, which has come into effect immediately, mandates that these cases be segregated at the earliest to avoid procedural delays.
To ensure strict compliance, the High Court has also directed that judicial officers undergo training on the legal provisions applicable to defence personnel. This includes familiarity with special procedural safeguards and relevant statutory provisions.
While dealing with such matters, courts have been directed to follow the Indian Military (Litigation) Act, 1925, along with the Army Act, 1950, the Air Force Act, 1950, the Navy Act, 1950, and any other applicable laws. This aims to ensure that the special legal status and operational duties of armed forces personnel are duly considered during judicial proceedings.
The guidelines further provide that if the personal presence of a defence personnel is required during proceedings, the hearing schedule must be adjusted in line with their availability to prevent unnecessary delays.
