Indian Army: Defence minister Rajnath Singh today approved restructuring of Army Headquarters following a detailed internal study conducted by Indian Army. It will add more than 200 senior officers to field units from the army headquarters and will also have a separate vigilance unit under the chief of army staff. This vigilance cell will have representation from all three branches of military.
Presently, the vigilance function for the COAS is through multiple agencies and there is no single point interface.
“An independent vigilance cell will be made functional under COAS. Accordingly, ADG (Vigilance) will be placed directly under the COAS for this purpose,” said the defence ministry.
It will have three Colonel-level officers (one each from Indian Army, Indian Air Force and Indian Navy). This will be done within the existing posts at AHQ.
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In another significant development, an umbrella organisation under the vice chief of army staff will be created for enhanced focus on human rights issues.
“It has been decided to set up a special Human Rights Section headed by ADG (Major General rank officer) directly under the Vice Chief of Army Staff. It will give high priority to observance of human rights convention and values,” said the ministry.
It will be the nodal point to examine any HR violation reports. To enhance transparency and ensure the best of investigative expertise is available to the section, a Police officer of SSP/SP rank will be taken on deputation.
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Re-location of 206 Army Officers from the army headquarters to field formations. A total of 206 officers will be optimized from AHQ and these officers will be made available additionally to formations and units of the field army.
The restructuring will involvement transfer of 3 Brigadiers, 8 Colonels, 9 Lt. Colonels and Majors, and 186 Lieutenants from army headquarters to field formations.
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The decision will meet the needs of having more officers at the field units rather than in New Delhi.
