NEW DELHI: On Friday, August 4, the Lok Sabha approved a significant bill that grants commanders of inter-services organizations the authority to exercise disciplinary and administrative control over personnel from the Army, Air Force, and Navy serving under their command.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh emphasized that this legislation marks a crucial milestone in the realm of military reforms. Presenting the Inter-Services Organisations (Command, Control, and Discipline) Bill, 2023 for consideration in the House amidst protests by the opposition regarding their demands related to the Manipur debate.

Before presenting the bill for passage, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh requested the Chair to allow him to speak from a different seat. The Deputy Speaker, Rajendra Agrawal, expressed concern about the situation, stating that it is not ideal for the minister to speak from another seat.

According to ANI, the bill is regarded as a significant stride towards theaterisation, aimed at optimizing military resources. Rajnath Singh, speaking on the bill, highlighted that it promotes jointness and provides better disciplinary and administrative powers to commanders of inter-services organizations.

“I want to assure the House that this bill is an important step in the direction of military reforms. This bill does not include any additional financial implications," he said.

Rajnath Singh further explained, “Currently, the service personnel of the Air Force, Army, and Navy are governed by the provisions of the Air Force Act, 1950, the Army Act, 1950, and the Navy Act, 1957, and only officers of the respective services are empowered to exercise disciplinary powers over the service personnel under the respective Service Acts."

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

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