Govt introduces bill to strengthen tri-services commanders' powers; seeks law to give commanders disciplinary powers

HY News 16 March, 2023 02:07 pm IST
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The government has introduced the Inter-Services Organizations (Command, Control and Discipline) Bill, 2023 in Lok Sabha to strengthen tri services commenders' power.

Twenty-two years after India created its first tri-service command, the defence ministry Wednesday tabled a bill in Parliament that will enable all existing tri-service and future theatre commanders to exercise disciplinary powers over personnel under them.

The Bill seeks to empower the Commander-in-Chief or the Officer-in Command of Inter-Services Organisations in respect of service personnel for the maintenance of discipline and proper discharge of their duties. Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt introduced the Bill.

At present, personnel of the Air Force, Army, and Navy are governed by the provisions of the individual acts governing each service — the Air Force Act, 1950, the Army Act, 1950 and the Navy Act, 1957. Under these acts, officers can exercise disciplinary powers only over personnel from their own service.

However, the new bill, tabled by Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt in the Lok Sabha, seeks to change this. It would allow a commander-in-chief or officer-in-command of an inter-services organisation to exercise disciplinary powers over personnel of any service who are serving under or are attached to “his” command.

The bill seeks to ‘empower the Commander-in-Chief or the Officer-in-Command of Inter-services Organisations in respect of service personnel who are subject to the Air Force Act, 1950, the Army Act, 1950 and the Navy Act, 1957, who are serving under or attached to his command. The bill also states the Commander-in-Chief or, as the case may be, Officer-in-Command of an Inter-services Organisation shall be the head of such Inter-services Organisation and shall exercise command and control over the personnel serving in or attached to that Inter-services Organisation, for the purpose of maintenance of discipline and proper discharge of their duties.

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