New Delhi: To strengthen jointness and greater coordination in the Armed Forces while also enabling Command efficiency, the Ministry of Defence has notified new rules under the Inter-Services Organisations (Command, Control and Discipline) Act, 2023 through a Gazette Notification. Set to come into effect from May 27, it is a crucial step towards boosting command, control, and efficient functioning of Inter-Services Organisations (ISOs), thereby enhancing jointness among the Armed Forces.
The Bill was approved by both Houses of Parliament during the 2023 Monsoon Session. It got the President’s nod on August 15, 2023. The Act came into force with effect from May 10, 2024, according to the Gazette Notification dated May 8, 2024. After this, the ISOs were notified through Gazette Notification No SRO 72 dated December 27, 2024.
The Act gives the Commanders-in-Chief and Officers-in-Command of the ISOs the power to exercise command and control over the service personnel serving under them, ensuring effective discipline and administration within the organisations. This is achieved without changing the unique service conditions of each branch of the Armed Forces, the Defence Ministry has pointed out.
The newly notified subordinate rules, formulated under Section 11 of the Act, are aimed to facilitate the effective implementation of the legislation’s provisions. These rules play a crucial role in enabling the smooth and efficient functioning of ISOs, providing a detailed framework for discipline, administrative control, and operational synergy.
With the notification of these rules, the Act is now fully operational. This will empower the heads of the ISOs, enable the expeditious disposal of disciplinary cases, and help avoid the duplication of proceedings.
