Inter-Services Organization Bill,2023, Flashcards
NEWS?
Lok Sabha recently passed the Inter-Services Organisation (Command, Control & Discipline) Bill - 2023 with the aim to bolster the efficiency, discipline, and jointness among the Armed Forces.
WHAT IS THE BILL?
Background: :
Currently, the Armed Forces operate under distinct Service Acts – the Army Act 1950, Navy Act 1957, and Air Force Act 1950.
However, the diverse nature of these acts has sometimes posed challenges in maintaining uniform discipline, coordination, and expeditious proceedings across the inter-services establishments.
The Inter-Services Organisation (Command, Control, & Discipline) Bill - 2023, addresses these concerns with its forward-looking provisions.
ISO Bill 2023 does not propose any alteration to the existing Service Acts, Rules, or Regulations that have stood the test of time and judicial scrutiny over several decades.
Salient Features:
Applicability: The bill is applicable to all regular Army, Navy, and Air Force personnel.
Also, the central government holds the right to designate any force established and maintained within India to which the provisions of the bill will apply.
Inter-services Organisation: Existing Inter-services Organisations will be deemed to have been constituted under the Bill. These include the Andaman and Nicobar Command, the Defence Space Agency, and the National Defence Academy.
The central government may constitute an Inter-services Organisation which has personnel belonging to at least two of the three services: the army, the navy, and the air force.
Note:
Joint command in Andaman and Nicobar Islands is the first Tri-Service theatre command of the Indian Armed Forces, based at Port Blair in Andaman and Nicobar Islands of India.
The Indian armed forces currently have 17 commands. There are 7 commands each of the Army and the Air Force. The Navy has 3 commands.
Each command is headed by a 4-star rank military officer.
Expanded Command and Control Authority: One of the central tenets of the bill is the extension of command and control authority to the Commander-in-Chief or Officer-in-Command of an Inter-services Organisation.
Unlike the existing structure, where these officers lack disciplinary and administrative powers over personnel from other services, the bill empowers them to exercise full command and control.
This includes maintaining discipline and ensuring the proper execution of duties by service personnel.
Commanding Officer: The bill introduces the concept of a Commanding Officer, responsible for overseeing a unit, ship, or establishment.
This officer, in addition to their unit-specific duties, also carries out tasks assigned by the Commander-in-Chief or Officer-in-Command of the Inter-services Organisation.
Central Government Authority: The superintendence of an Inter-services Organisation will be vested in the central government.
The government may also issue directions to such organizations on grounds of national security, general administration, or public interest.
