(1.) The petitioner, a Major of Indian Army, has preferred the instant writ petition under Art. 226 of the Constitution of India feeling aggrieved with the impugned order passed by the General Officer Commanding, 15 Infantry Division awarding punishment of "severe reprimand" .
(2.) After enactment of the Armed Forces Tribunal Act, 2007 (In short, Act), the petition was remitted to Armed Forces Tribunal, Lucknow on 23.4.2010. Sections 33 and 34 of the Act provide that after notification, the jurisdiction of the Civil Court and all other courts shall be barred and the pending matter in the High Court shall be remitted immediately before the tribunal after its establishment. The notification came into force on 15.6.2008. For convenience, Sections 33 and 34 of the Act are reproduced as under :
(3.) It appears that Principal Bench of Armed Forces Tribunal, New Delhi had passed an order on 19.2.2010 and held that the question of punishment with regard to severe reprimand may not be adjudicated by the Armed Forces Tribunal in view of the definition contained in Section 3 of the Act. For convenience, relevant portion from the order passed by the Principal Bench of Armed Forces Tribunal, New Delhi is reproduced as under :