Indian Armed Forces Set for Enhanced Discipline with Inter-Services Organisation Act in Effect

New Delhi: long-awaited Inter-Services Organisation (Command, Control, and Discipline) Act, aimed at bolstering command efficiency and discipline among Armed Forces personnel, has finally been notified to come into force from May 10, 2024. Passed during Monsoon Session of 2023 and receiving presidential assent on August 15, 2023, Act marks a significant milestone in enhancing operational effectiveness of Inter-Services Organisations (ISOs). 

Act vests Commanders-in-Chief and Officers-in-Command of ISOs with authority to maintain discipline and minister personnel under ir command without disrupting individual service conditions. By centralizing disciplinary and ministrative powers, Act streamlines procedures, ensuring swift resolution of cases and promoting greater integration and jointness among Armed Forces personnel. 

Parliamentary approval and strategic vantages 

Lok Sabha passed Inter-Services Organisation (Command, Control & Discipline) Bill – 2023 on August 04, 2023, solidifying legal framework for enhanced command and control within ISOs. Act supersedes existing service-specific legislations such as Army Act 1950, Navy Act 1957, and Air Force Act 1950, offering a uniform approach to disciplinary matters across ISOs. 

With implementation of Act, several tangible benefits are anticipated, including maintaining effective discipline, expediting case resolutions, and optimizing resource utilization. ditionally, Act lays groundwork for greater integration among three Services, setting stage for establishment of joint structures to enhance operational synergy and efficiency. 

Salient features of act 

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh, while introducing Bill in Lok Sabha, emphasized its pivotal role in vancing military reforms and empowering Armed Forces to tackle future challenges cohesively. He lauded Act as a critical step towards achieving integration and jointness, aligning with government's vision of strengning national security. 

Act applies to all regular Army, Navy, and Air Force personnel serving in or attached to an Inter-Services Organisation. It grants Commanders-in-Chief, Officers-in-Command, and designated officers full disciplinary and ministrative powers, ensuring effective command and control. ditionally, Act enables officiating officers to initiate disciplinary actions in absence of senior commanders.  

While Act empowers Hes of Inter-Services Organisations, it does not alter existing service laws or regulations governing personnel. Service members serving in or attached to ISOs will continue to be governed by ir respective Service Acts, with Act merely facilitating centralized disciplinary authority within ISOs.