Cantonments in India: Origin, Purpose, and Administration

Context

The Centre has decided to shrink the land under the jurisdiction of 10 key cantonment boards across five states and put them under the state local bodies.

• Undoing Colonial Legacy: The move is part of Prime Minister’s overall plan to “undo the colonial legacy”
• Governance Reforms: It aims  usher in a “range of governance reforms”

Cantonments in India

• Origin: Cantonments in India were first established during the British East India Company’s reign, particularly following the Battle of Plassey in 1757.
  • Following this battle, the EIC gained major territorial rights and set up permanent military bases along trade arteries like the Ganga River. 
• Purpose: These cantonments were purposefully positioned away from urban areas to reduce the connection between the troops and local residents, maintaining discipline and preventing emotional bonds that could undermine British rule.

Establishment of Cantonments in India

• First Cantonments in India: The first three cantonments, Barrackpore, Danapur, and St. Thomas Mount, were erected before 1800.
  • Under the British administration, 56 cantonments were created over time to monitor local communities for signs of dissent or revolt strategically. 
• Establishment of New Cantonments: After India attained independence, six further cantonments were created, the last of which was in Ajmer in 1962. Currently, there are 62 cantonments spread throughout multiple military commands.

Regulatory Framework For Cantonments in India

• Cantonments Act: Several acts, including the Cantonments Act of 1889, the Cantonment Code of 1899, and the Cantonments Act of 1924, developed the regulatory basis for cantonments. 
• Civilian Participation: The 1924 Act established cantonment boards with civilian participation to oversee municipal issues in cantonments. 
• Provision of Cantonment Act: The Cantonments Act, which superseded the 1924 Act in 2006, included revisions to increase democratization within cantonment boards, including provisions for elected civilian members and designated seats for women. 
• Role of Cantonment Boards: These bodies are in charge of providing civic facilities such as health care, water supply, education, and street lighting in cantonments. 
• Administrative Control: Administrative control remains with military authorities, and the station commander serves as the board’s ex-officio president.

Cantonment Administration in India

• Number of Cantonments in India: The country has 61 Cantonments notified under the Cantonments Act of 1924 (which was replaced by the Cantonments Act of 2006).
• Role of Central Government in Cantonment Areas: According to Entry 3 of the Union List (Schedule VII) of the Indian Constitution, the Union of India is responsible for the urban self-government of cantonments and the housing accommodations they provide.  
• Administration of Cantonment Board: The Board’s ex-officio President is the Cantonment Station Commander, and the Chief Executive Officer is an IDES or Defence Estates Organisation officer who also serves as the Board’s Member-Secretary.

• • Cantonment Boards, democratic entities, are responsible for the general municipal management of the designated cantonments. Representation: A cantonment board comprises eight elected members, three nominated military members, three ex-officio members (the station commander, garrison engineer, and senior executive medical officer), and one district magistrate representative.
• Difference with Military Stations: Cantonments differ from Military Stations in that Military Stations are established by executive order and solely intended for the use and lodging of the armed forces.
• Term of Cantonment Member: A board member serves for a five-year term.
• Management of Cantonment Boards: The cantonment boards are controlled by GOCs, IDES officers, state bureaucrats, and a few elected members.
• Member Secretary of the Board: An officer of the Indian Defence Estates Service (IDES) or Defence Estates Organisation is the board’s chief executive officer and member-secretary.

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