Article Posted on : - Dec 16, 2016

NEW DELHI (PTI): The Cabinet Committee on Security headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi will take the final decision on creating the post of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and Permanent Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee, the Indian Defence Ministry has told a parliamentary panel.

The ministry told the Committee on Government Assurances that no major political party has responded to the consultation process initiated by it to obtain their views on creation of the post of CDS.

In its response to the Assurances Committee, a report of which was tabled in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, the Defence Ministry said a Group of Ministers was set up in April 2000 to review the national security system in entirety and in particular, to consider the recommendations of the Kargil Review Committee and to formulate specific proposals for its implementations.

The GoM in its report, submitted to the government in February 2001, recommended the creation of the institution of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).

The government approved the recommendations related to CDS after consultation with political parties as it required a "detailed examination of pros and cons of the proposal".

The process of consultation was initiated by then Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

"It is an extremely important and sensitive decision. It was decided that there should be consultations with all political parties. We had initiated the process in March 2006," Defence Secretary G Mohan Kumar told the panel.

So far, the opinion of 24 major political parties have been sought.

"We got response from only 10 political parties. Major political parties have not responded. Considering the fact that this being a national issue, it is necessary that major political parties also give their opinion. But we do not have the fortune or good luck of getting their opinion," he said.

The ministry also told the panel that the government had set up the Naresh Chandra Task Force on National Security in May 2011 to review the national security management system.

The Task Force recommended the creation of Permanent Post of Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (CoSC).

"Considering that there (are) two proposals for the establishment of the post of CDS and Permanent Chairman, CoSC, it is expected that at the time of a final decision the CCS on the recommendations of the NCTF, both proposals will be taken note of and the final decision, as and when, would be taken to settle both the proposals," the Ministry said in its response to the Committee.