Army, Navy and Air Force personnel marching past Red Fort during the Independence Day celebration in New Delhi. File photo
| Photo Credit: The Hindu

The government has notified the rules formulated under the Inter-Services Organisations (Command, Control and Discipline) Act 2023, which came into effect from May 27.

“This significant step aims to bolster effective command, control, and efficient functioning of Inter-Services Organisations (ISOs), thereby strengthening jointness among the armed forces,” said the Defence Ministry.

The Bill was passed by both Houses of Parliament during the Monsoon Session of 2023. It received the assent of the President on August 15, 2023, and the Act came into force with effect from May 10, 2024. Subsequently, the ISOs were notified through a gazette notification dated December 27, 2024.

The Act empowers the Commanders-in-Chief and Officers-in-Command of the ISOs to exercise command and control over the service personnel serving under them, ensuring effective maintenance of discipline and administration within the organisations.

“This is achieved without altering the unique service conditions applicable to each branch of the armed forces,” it said.

The newly notified subordinate rules, framed under Section 11 of the Act, will facilitate the effective implementation of the provisions laid down in the legislation. The rules are a critical enabler for the functioning of the ISOs and establish a comprehensive 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,” said the Ministry.

As part of the military reforms, the post of Chief of Defence Staff was created in 2019 with the mandate to ensure “jointness” of the three services in operations, logistics, transport, training, support services, communications, repairs, and maintenance.