NEW DELHI — The Centre government has notified the rules under the
Inter-Services Organisations (Command, Control and Discipline) Act 2023, which
enable greater jointness and Command efficiency in the Armed Forces.
The rules formulated under the Inter-Services
Organisations (Command, Control and Discipline) Act 2023 have been notified
through a gazette notification and have come into effect from May 27.
In a media release on Wednesday, the government said this
significant step aims to bolster the effective command, control, and efficient
functioning of Inter-Services Organisations (ISOs), thereby strengthening
jointness among the Armed Forces.
The Bill for this was passed by both Houses -- Rajya
Sabha and Lok Sabha -- of Parliament during the Monsoon Session of 2023.
It received the assent of the President on August 15,
2023, and the Act came into force with effect from May 10, 2024, as per the
Gazette Notification dated May 08, 2024. Subsequently, the ISOs were notified
through Gazette Notification No. SRO 72 dated December 27, 2024.
The Act empowers the Commanders-in-Chief and
Officers-in-Command of the ISOs to exercise command and control over the
service personnel serving under them, ensuring effective maintenance of
discipline and administration within the organisations. This is achieved
without altering the unique service conditions applicable to each branch of the
Armed Forces.
The newly notified subordinate Rules, framed under
Section 11 of the Act, are intended to facilitate the effective implementation
of the provisions laid down in the legislation.
These Rules are a critical enabler for the functioning of
the ISOs and establish a comprehensive framework for discipline, administrative
control, and operational synergy.
With the notification of these Rules, the Act is now
fully operational. This will empower the heads of the ISOs, enable the
expeditious disposal of disciplinary cases, and help avoid the duplication of
proceedings.
As per the notification, "when the
Commander-in-Chief, the Officer-in-Command or the Commanding Officer is absent,
on leave or otherwise, the officer to officiate as the Commander-in-Chief,
Officer-in-Command or the Commanding Officer shall be notified in the
Inter-services Organisation, Establishment or Unit Orders, as the case may be
and in case of emergency where such Orders have not been notified, by such
officer as deputed to officiate by the next higher formation, until the
appointment is notified."
"The officer officiating under sub-rule (1) as the
Commander-in-Chief, the Officer-in-Command or the Commanding Officer, shall,
subject to such restrictions as contained in the respective Service Acts, rules
or regulations, exercise any power conferred on the Commander-in-Chief, the
Officer-in-Command or the Commanding Officer, as the case may be.
For the disciplinary and administrative power, the
notification says, "The Commander-in-Chief of a Joint Services Command,
Officer-in-Command of Inter-services establishment and Commanding Officer of
Inter-services unit shall exercise all disciplinary and administrative power
over a person subject to any of the Service Acts."
