The Delhi High Court has sought the Defence ministry’s stand on whether the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) can adjudicate on the constitutional validity of statutes other than the Armed Forces Tribunal Act, 2007, while hearing a transwoman’s challenge to her dismissal by the Indian Navy.

In an order on October 17, a three-judge bench of Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya, Justices C Hari Shankar and Om Prakash Shukla also clarified that “since this matter may have an impact over the personnel of all the Armed Forces”, counsel for the Centre shall be instructed by none other than the Secretary, Ministry of Defence, or any other high-ranked officer nominated by him for the said purpose.

With Senior Advocate Gautam Narayan appointed as an amicus curiae in the matter, the three-judge bench is expecte

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