Chief of Defence Staff to Come under RTI

Indian Navy

New Delhi: The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) to be appointed soon will come under the purview of the Right to Information Act (RTI), Parliament was told.

The decision to have a CDS was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address from Red Fort on August 15.

Soon after the announcement by Prime Minister, a high-level committee headed by NSA Ajit Doval was set up to finalise responsibilities and enabling framework for the proposed Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).

The Committee has submitted its report to the government and the announcement is likely to be made soon.

The CDS will be the single-point military adviser to the government as suggested by the Kargil Review Committee in 1999, sources said.

Outgoing Army Chief General Bipin Rawat is strongly favoured to be the first CDS as his retirement is due this month end and he has begun visiting various army units to bid farewell to the soldiers and officers.