New Delhi, Aug 8 - President Pratibha Patil Saturday inaugurated the Armed Forces Tribunal, an exclusive court for nearly 2.5 million serving and retired defence personnel.

The tribunal, which has been a long-standing demand of the servicemen, will deal with nearly 9,000 military cases pending in various courts across the country.

'The establishment of the Armed Forces Tribunal, an exclusive court for the members of the army, navy and the air force will enhance their confidence and trust levels in the system of dispensation of justice in relation to their service matters. Hence, it marks an important milestone in the history of the armed forces in India,' Patil said at the inaugural function.

The tribunal will be functional once the government issues the notification in this regard.

Set up by an act of parliament in December 2007, the tribunal will have its principal bench in New Delhi and eight regional benches across the country.

It will have 15 courts in all -- three each in New Delhi, Chandigarh and Lucknow and one each in Jaipur, Mumbai, Kolkata, Guwahati, Chennai and Kochi.

'When a new institution is set up to meet a specific demand or to fill a lacuna, the expectations from it are usually high. However, a new body has an advantage as while framing rules, regulations and working methodologies, it can do so in a way that will fulfil its mandate in the most effective manner,' Patil said.