Lok Sabha passes Inter-Services Organisations Bill & IIM (Amendment) Bill amid din

The Lok Sabha today, passed the Inter-Services Organisations (Command, Control, and Discipline) Bill, 2023 amid din. 

The Bill seeks to empower the Commander-in-Chief or Officer-in-Command of Inter-services Organisations to exercise disciplinary and administrative control over the service personnel under their command, irrespective of their service. 

As per the provisions of the Bill, the central government may constitute an Inter-services Organisation that has personnel belonging to at least two of the three services.

Moving the Bill, Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh said, the government is continuously taking steps to bring reforms in armed forces and this legislation is another step in the direction of military reform.

He said the Bill will promote integration and jointness in armed forces and further strengthen discipline in inter-services organisations.

The Bill provides better disciplinary and administrative powers to the heads of Inter-Services Organisations, enabling them to bring about effective Command, Control and Discipline in their organisations, and further strengthen the country's security infrastructure. 

Participating in the discussion, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore of BJP supported the Bill saying that the Narendra Modi government has always given priority to the needs and requirements of the armed forces and the security apparatus of the country.

He said the government has fulfilled the promise of One Rank One Pension. Ritesh Pandey of BSP also spoke on the Bill.

Lok Sabha today also passed the Indian Institutes of Management (Amendment) Bill, 2023 amid the din. The Bill seeks to further amend the Indian Institutes of Management Act, 2017. 

The bill declares Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) as institutes of national importance.

The Bill designates the President of India as a Visitor of every Institute covered by the Act. 

Under the Act, the Director of an IIM is appointed by the Board of Governors, based on the recommendations of a Search-cum-Selection Committee.

The Bill mandates the Board to obtain the prior approval of the Visitor before appointing an Institute Director.

Moving the bill, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said, the government has no intention to interfere with the academy autonomy of IIMs. He said, the bill has been brought for management accountability. The Minister said, the Bill classifies the National Institute of Industrial Engineering (NITIE), Mumbai as IIM, Mumbai Jagdambika Pal of BJP and Krishna Devarayalu Lavu of YSRCP participated in the brief discussion on the Bill.