Govt notifies rules to power unified military command weeks after Operation Sindoor

Weeks after the armed forces acted in synergy to punish cross-border terrorism under the 'Operation Sindoor', the government has notified new rules that will further bolster joint command and control, and increase the efficiency of cross services.

The government has notified rules under the Inter-Services Organisations (Command, Control and Discipline) Act that will empower the heads of Inter Services Organisations (ISOs) to take charge of soldiers and enforce discipline, regardless of which service they belong to.

Officials said that the Act is now fully operational with the notification of the rules on Tuesday and will "enable the expeditious disposal of disciplinary cases and help avoid the duplication of proceedings". "This significant step aims to bolster effective command, control, and efficient functioning of Inter-Services Organisations, thereby strengthening jointness among the armed forces," officials said.

The bill was passed by both Houses of Parliament during the monsoon session of 2023 and came into force with effect from May 2024.

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

In the past, commanding officers did not have administrative powers of soldiers from a different service, even though they were part of the same unit. For example, in previous joint services setup, an Army soldier commanded by a Navy officer would have to be sent back to his parent unit for disciplinary proceedings. The Navy officer also did not have administrative powers over the said soldier.

As the government is moving towards creation of joint theatre commands - new formations that will include units from the Army, Air Force and Navy under a single military authority, based either on geographic location or function - the Act was required to maintain operational efficiency. It also empowers the central government to constitute an ISO, like the upcoming theatre commands.