CANTONMENT BOARD -
POLITY
News: Land portions from 10
cantonment boards to be run by local bodies
What's in the news?
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The Centre has reportedly initiated measures to reduce
the land jurisdiction of 10 major cantonment boards across five states.
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In May 2023, the Centre had kicked off a plan to
abolish all 62 colonial-era Cantonments across the country.
Key takeaways:
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At present, cantonment boards provide civic services like trade licence,
birth and death certificates, water supply, sewerage connections, and building
plan approvals to those living within their jurisdiction.
Cantonments:
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Cantonments are permanent military stations where a group of military personnel are
stationed for administrative purposes.
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They are governed by the Cantonments Act, 2006, which provides for municipal administration
and control of these areas.
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India currently has 62 cantonments spread across various states, with some areas known
for their better infrastructure and facilities compared to other parts of the
country.
Cantonment Boards:
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Cantonments are managed by Cantonment Boards, which
are democratic bodies comprising elected
and nominated members.
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The Station
Commander of the Cantonment serves as the ex-officio President of the
Board.
Cantonment
Administration in India:
1. Number of Cantonments
in India:
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The country has 62 Cantonments notified under the
Cantonments Act of 1924 (which was replaced by the Cantonments Act of 2006).
2. Role of Central
Government in Cantonment Areas:
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According to Entry 3 of the Union List (Schedule
VII) of the Indian Constitution, the Union of India is responsible for the
urban self-government of cantonments and the housing accommodations they
provide.
3. Administration of
Cantonment Board:
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The Board’s
ex-officio President is the Cantonment Station Commander, and the Chief Executive Officer is an IDES or
Defence Estates Organisation officer who also serves as the Board’s Member-Secretary.
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Cantonment Boards, democratic entities, are
responsible for the general municipal management of the designated cantonments.
4. Representation:
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A cantonment board comprises eight elected members, three nominated military members, three
ex-officio members (the station commander, garrison engineer, and senior
executive medical officer), and one
district magistrate representative.
5. Difference with
Military Stations:
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Cantonments differ from military stations in that
military stations are established by executive order and solely intended for
the use and lodging of the armed forces.
6. Term of Cantonment
Member:
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A board member serves for a five-year term.
7. Management of
Cantonment Boards:
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The cantonment boards are controlled by GOCs, IDES
officers, state bureaucrats, and a few elected members.
8. Member Secretary of
the Board:
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An officer of the Indian Defence Estates Service
(IDES) or Defence Estates Organisation is the board’s chief executive officer
and member-secretary.
Go back to basics:
Backdrop:
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The Cantonments
Act, 1924, was enacted by the British to regulate the municipal
administration of cantonments.
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After India’s independence, the Cantonments Act was
modified to suit the democratic setup of the country.
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The current Cantonments Act, 2006, replaced the
previous version, aiming to provide greater autonomy and accountability to the
Cantonment Boards.
Categories of the
erstwhile Cantonments:
Cantonments are categorized based on the population size residing within
them:
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Category I: Cantonments with a population of over 50,000.
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Category II: Cantonments with a population of 10,000 to 50,000.
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Category III: Cantonments with a population of less than 10,000.
● Category IV: Industrial or training Cantonments, irrespective of their population size.