JUDGMENT

Asha Menon, J. - These two writ petitions have been filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India against the common orders of the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) dated 9th October, 2020 and therefore the two petitions are being disposed of by this common judgment.

2. The facts as are relevant for the disposal of the present petitions, in brief, are that almost contemporaneous to the Indian Air Force air strike at Balakot, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, in the early hours of 26th February, 2019, an air accident took place on 27th February, 2019, at Srinagar Air Force Station in which an Air Force Mi 17 Chopper was completely destroyed and six officers of the Indian Air Force and one civilian lost their lives. A Court of Inquiry (CoI) was constituted in accordance with the Air Force Act, 1950 and the Rules and Regulations framed thereunder.

3. Both the petitioners were notified under Regulation 790 of the Air Force Regulations, firstly under Regulation 790(a),(b),(c) and subsequently also under Regulation 790(e). At this point, both the petitioners sought the supply of the copies of the entire proceedings of the CoI. A Signal was issued in respect of petitioner Wg Cdr Shya