COMMANDERS IN CHIEF (CHANGE IN DESIGNATION) ACT 1955

19 of 1955

3rd May,1955

"Under clause (2) of Art. 53 of the Constitution of India, the Supreme Command of the Defence Forces of the Union vests in the President. In keeping with this provision of the Constitution it has been decided that the practice of referring to the Service Chiefs of the Army. Navy and Air Force as Commanders-in-Chief should be discontinued and that they should be designated as the Chief of the Army Staff, the Chief of the Naval Staff and the Chief of the Air Staff respectively. The Bill accordingly seeks to give effect to the above decision. firstly, by suitably amending certain enactments which contain references to the Commanders -in-Chief and. secondly, by providing for a rule of construction respecting references to Commanders -in-Chief occurring in rules, orders, agreements and other instruments."-Gaz. of India, Extra, 12-4-55.Pt II .S. 2, p. 151.

An Act to amend certain enactments for the purpose of changing the designation of the Commanders-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. BE it enacted by Parliament in the Sixth Year of the Republic of India as follows :-

SECTION 01: SHORT TITLE AND COMMENCEMENT

(1) This Act may be called The Commanders-in-Chief (Change in Designation) Act. 1955.

(2) It shall come into force on such date1as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.

SECTION 02: AMENDMENT OF CERTAIN ENACTMENTS

[Repeated by the Repeating and Amending Act, 1960(58 of 1960), S. 2and Sch.]

SECTION 03: CONSTRUCTION OF REFERENCES TO COMMANDERS IN CHIEF IN ENACTMENTS OF INSTRUMENTS

Any reference, by whatever form of words, to the Commander-in-Chief of the regular Army, the Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Navy. and the Commander-in-Chier of the Air Force, in any law for the time being in force, or in any instrument or other document, shall be construed as a reference to the Chief of the Army Staff. the Chief of the Naval Staff, and the Chief of the Air Staff respectively.

SCHEDULE 01: THE SCHEDULE

[Repealed by the Repealing and Amending Act, 19M (58 oF I960), S. 2 and Sch.]