Defence Ministry notifies rules to give disciplinary powers to military theatre commanders

The Ministry of Defence today notified rules that empower Commanders heading tri-services organisations like theatre commands with disciplinary powers over their subordinates. 

The rules are for enforcing the Inter-Services Organisation (Command, Control & Discipline) Act. The Act was notified in May last year. The rules under the Act that would apply to the armed forces’ personnel have been notified today and come into force from May 27.

The Ministry of Defence said on Wednesday: “Rules formulated under the Inter-Services Organisations (Command, Control and Discipline) Act, 2023, have been notified through a gazette notification and will come into effect from May 27, 2025.”

This step aims at bolstering effective command, control and efficient functioning of Inter-Services Organisations (ISOs), thereby strengthening jointness among the armed forces, the MoD said in statement.

Official sources said this was a long-awaited reform, especially after the appointment of the Chief of Defence Staff.  The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha had last year in August passed the Bill that received Presidential assent.

Theatre commands are expected to be announced soon and entail having a single commander leading the men and officers from three armed forces.

The Act empowers Commanders-in-Chief and Officers-in-Command (of tri-service organisations) to exercise control over service personnel serving under them for effective maintenance of discipline and administration, without disturbing the unique service conditions of each individual service.

The move comes 24 years after India created its first tri-service command — the Andaman and Nicobar Command.

At present, personnel of the Indian Air Force, Army and the Navy  are, respectively, governed under the Air Force Act, 1950, the Army Act, 1950, and the Navy Act, 1957.

Service personnel, when serving in an tri-services organization, will continue to be governed by their respective service Acts. However, the rules and the new Act will empower heads of tri-services organisations to exercise all the disciplinary and administrative powers as per the existing Acts of the three services.

At present, a tri-service commander has no role in administration of justice against any of his subordinates.

Officers and men posted to tri-services organisations while facing disciplinary proceedings, if any, are reverted to their parent service.

At present, the tri-service organisations among others  include the Andaman and Nicobar Command, the Strategic Forces Command and the Department of Military Affairs – led by the CDS.