Defence Ministry introduces bill in Lok Sabha to empower joint force commanders

Working towards the establishment of theatre commands, the Defence Ministry has introduced a bill in Lok Sabha that would grant commanders of triservice organisations disciplinary authority over all personnel from all three forces serving under them.

The bill – Inter-Services Organisations (Command, Control, and Discipline) Bill, 2023 – also states that the central government may “by notification, constitute an Inter-services Organisation, which may include a Joint Services Command, comprising of units or service personnel who are subject to any of the Service Acts, as may be placed under the command of the Commander-in-Chief or, as the case may be, the Officer-in-Command.” 

Ajay Bhatt, Minister of State for Defence, introduced the bill in Lok Sabha on Wednesday amid much ado. It was introduced in Parliament at a time when the Defence Ministry is working on the establishment of theatre commands to combat threats in a changing security environment. To that end, the position of Chief of Defence Staff has been established.

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, for the maintenance of discipline and proper discharge of their duties” and for related matters.

According to the bill, 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 maintaining discipline and proper discharge of their duties.
CDS Gen Anil Chauhan has been collaborating with the three service chiefs to establish operational tri-service organisations or theatre commands in order to strengthen forces for future battles.

He has been briefing top government officials on the work being done to improve jointless and integration among the forces, as directed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The bill was introduced amid din over the demand of BJP members for an apology from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his remarks in London and the opposition’s demand for a JPC probe in the Adani-Hindenburg row.

The statement of the objects and reasons of the bill states that a need arises to empower the Commander-in-Chief and Officer-inCommand of the Inter-services Organisations to exercise control over the service personnel serving under or attached under their command, for maintenance of discipline and proper discharge of their duties, without disturbing the unique service conditions or amending the Service Acts.

The bill is an enabling legislation that empowers the Heads of Inter-services Organisations to exercise effective command, control, and discipline on all regular Air Force, Army, and Navy personnel, as well as persons from other forces as notified by the Central Government, who are serving in or attached to an Inter-services Organisation, without amending the respective Acts.