Inter-Services Organisation (Command, Control & Discipline) Bill 2023

• 09 Aug 2023

For Prelims: Inter-Services Organisation (Command, Control & Discipline) Bill - 2023, Andaman and Nicobar Command, Commands of Indian Army, Navy, Air Force.

For Mains: Salient Features of Inter-Services Organisation (Command, Control & Discipline) Bill - 2023

Source: PIB

Why in 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 Inter-Services Organisation (Command, Control & Discipline) Bill 2023?

• 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.