Isn’t It Political Misuse of the Army?

Newsreel Asia Insight #20
Oct. 21, 2023

The Indian Army has reportedly been asked to set up 822 “selfie points” across the country to promote government schemes, sparking allegations of political misuse and weakening of the military institution by the Central government.

The Defence Department has circulated a directive for the Army to set up 822 selfie points across the nation to showcase government schemes, Col. (Retd.) Rohit Chaudhry, chief of the opposition Congress party’ Ex-Servicemen Department, said at a press conference on Oct. 20, as reported by PTI.

Posters for these schemes have been given to the military, and the country’s security agencies have received orders to establish these points, Chaudhry added, calling this alleged move an “abuse of power” and illegal.

Chaudhry raised concerns over the impartiality of the Army, saying it amounts to the country’s soldiers campaigning for the incumbent government.

Recently, Congress party president Mallikarjun Kharge also accused the government of politically using the Army for elections, saying the ruling party is capitalising on the Army’s popularity.

Democracies operate on the principle that the military is subordinate to civilian authority. This ensures that the armed forces are used for the benefit of the nation and its citizens, rather than to maintain a particular government in power.

The separation between the military and the executive is part of the checks and balances in a democracy. In a democratic system, the division of power among different branches of government ensures that no single entity gains unchecked authority. A military that’s too close to the executive could lead to authoritarian tendencies.

Further, military personnel are trained for defence and security, not political manoeuvring. Mixing the two can compromise the quality of military decision-making and divert resources from its primary duties.

According to the Army Act of 1950 and the Indian Constitution, the Army’s primary role is defending India’s territorial integrity and national security.

The Army Act emphasises military discipline, hierarchy and an apolitical stance. It includes stringent provisions for court-martial and other disciplinary actions against army personnel engaging in political activities.

Civilian oversight of the armed forces is established through the President of India serving as the Commander-in-Chief. This chain of command ensures that military power is subordinate to elected civilian leadership, which is, in turn, accountable to Parliament.

Consequently, any direct use of the Army for political purposes would be subject to scrutiny by both Parliament and the judiciary.