Question: The administrative control of Assam Rifles lies with which of the following Ministry?
(a) Home Ministry
(b) Defense Ministry
(c) Both (a) and (b)
(d) None of the above
Answer: (a)
Related facts:
- The Delhi High Court has recently sought the response of the Cabinet committee on Security (CCS) on a plea seeking directions to remove the dual control of Assam Rifles and bring it under the Defense Ministry.
- The CCS is chaired by the Prime Minister and comprises the Minister of External Affairs, the Home minister, the Finance minister and the Defence minister. It was decided by both MHA and MoD that they will abide by the decision of the CCS, the MHA told the high court in its affidavit.
- The court was hearing a petition filed by the Assam Rifles Ex-Servicemen Welfare Association on the difficulties faced by the retired personnel of the force with regard to the payment of pension due to the dual control of the force.
- The Assam Rifles came into being in 1835, as a militia called the Cacher Levy. With approximately 750 men, this force was formed to primarily protect British Tea Estates and their settlements against tribal raids. In 1917, the name of the Force was changed to Assam Rifles.
- At present, the administrative control of Assam Rifles lies with the Home Ministry, while the operational control is with the Defense Ministry leading to violation of the rights of the troopers of India’s oldest Paramilitary Force.
- The Assam Rifles remains deployed in the remote areas of the Northeast and provide security to the locals and have grown from 17 battalions in 1960 to 46 battalions having 46,000 personnel at present.
Links:
https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/hc-seeks-ccs-response-on-plea-over-assam-rifles-119041201225_1.html
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/mha-mod-leave-it-to-ccs-to-take-final-call-on-dual-control-over-assam-rifles/articleshow/68889294.cms?from=mdr