STRATEGIC FORCES COMMAND (SFC) - DEFENCE & SECURITY
News: President terminates services of
Army Major posted with Strategic Forces Command unit
What's
in the news?
●
The President of India has dismissed an Indian Army Major stationed
in a Strategic Forces Command (SFC) unit due to their involvement in
serious national security breaches, as determined by an Army inquiry.
Key takeaways:
●
The
President utilized her authority under the Army Act, 1950, along with Article 310 of the Constitution
and other relevant powers, to promptly terminate his services.
What are Some of the
Important Provisions of the Army Act, 1950?
Enlistment
and Terms of Service:
● It
specifies the procedures for enlisting and the terms of service for army
personnel, including conditions of recruitment, training and retirement.
● Discipline and Conduct:
The Army Act provides a detailed framework for maintaining discipline within
the army. It outlines various offenses and penalties for misconduct, such as
insubordination, desertion, disobedience, and conduct unbecoming of a soldier.
Court-Martial:
● The
Act establishes the legal framework for convening courts-martial to try
military personnel accused of offenses. It defines different types of
courts-martial, such as General
Court-Martial (GCM), District Court-Martial (DCM), and Summary General
Court-Martial (SGCM).
○ Legal Rights of Accused:
The Act outlines the legal rights and safeguards for individuals facing
court-martial, including the right to legal representation, the right to remain
silent, and the right to appeal.
Detention:
● The
Act allows for the detention of military personnel in certain circumstances,
such as when they are considered a threat to the security or discipline of the
army.
○ Service Tribunals:
The Armed Forces Tribunal Act 2007
establishes the Armed Forces Tribunal, a specialized judicial body to hear
appeals and petitions related to military matters.
● Miscellaneous Provisions:
The Act contains various miscellaneous provisions, including those related to
the protection of witnesses, the appointment of Judge Advocates, and the rules
for administering oaths.
Strategic
Forces Command:
●
There are 2 tri-service commands, Strategic Forces Command (SFC) and Andaman and
Nicobar Command (ANC), which is headed by rotation by officers from the 3
Services.
●
The SFC (Strategic Forces Command), looks after the delivery and operational
control of the country’s nuclear assets. It was created in 2003, but
because it has no specific geographic responsibility and a designated role, it
is not an integrated theatre command but an integrated functional command.