The Delhi High Court has recently directed the Centre to decide on the matter of separating the Assam Rifles from the dual control of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Ministry of Defence (MoD). This development sparked a series of reactions and analyses on the role and situation of the Assam Rifles, with various stakeholders standing on different sides of the issue.
Origins of the Issue
The process began when the Assam Rifles Ex-Servicemen Welfare Association submitted a petition. Their appeal was for the government to assign the Assam Rifles under the sole jurisdiction of one ministry, preferably the MoD. As it stands, the MHA holds administrative command of the Assam Rifles, while the MoD oversees its operational control. This dual authority often causes coordination issues that affect the force’s efficiency and effectiveness.
Role and Functions of Assam Rifles
Established as the military and paramilitary force in India, the Assam Rifles play significant roles in maintaining law and order, especially in volatile regions. Devaluing their function and treating them less than a military force is considered by many as an arbitrary and unreasonable action. The personnel who serve in the Assam Rifles shoulder responsibilities similar to those in the Army, yet there exists a disparity in their pay scales.
The Direction of the Delhi High Court
The High Court has observed the lack of a resolution on this issue and has ordered the Centre to settle it within 12 weeks. It emphasized the importance of considering the interests of servicemen and ex-servicemen, declaring that their welfare should be paramount and prioritized.
Centre’s Stand
The Centre appears to lean towards an in-principle decision to place the Assam Rifles under the exclusive control of the MHA, similar to other Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs). However, it has yet to make this decision official. The Centre sought an additional six months to finalize its stance due to the current Covid-19-induced disruptions.
About Assam Rifles
The Assam Rifles, a Central Paramilitary Force under the Central Armed Police Forces, was constituted in 1835 as the ‘Cachar Levy.’ Its primary function was to shield British tea estates and their settlements from tribal incursions. Over time, it underwent a shift in roles and responsibilities, becoming a significant contributor to the administrative and commercial expansion of Assam. Post-independence, it has participated in various conventional combat roles, peacekeeping duties within India, and even operations on foreign lands.
In late 2019, there were proposals from the MHA to merge the force with the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP). As a specialized mountain force established in October 1962, ITBP guards the Indian borders from the Karakoram Pass in Ladakh to Jachep La in Arunachal Pradesh.
