The Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Department of the Indian Army, the judicial and legal wing responsible for the dispensation of justice to all ranks, celebrated its 42nd Corps Day today. The day marks the introduction of the Army Act Bill in Parliament on this date in 1949.
To commemorate the occasion, wreaths were laid at the National War Memorial by the Adjutant General of the Indian Army, Lieutenant General V.P.S. Kaushik, and the Judge Advocate General, Major General Sandeep Kumar, in tribute to the fallen soldiers.
Over the decades, the JAG Department has steadily expanded in strength and scope, providing vital legal support during major military operations. The Department has played a pioneering role in the induction of women officers under the Short Service Commission, undertaken comprehensive revisions of the Manual of Military Law, modernised Defence Service Regulations, and embraced emerging technologies.
Through sustained dedication and professional rigour, the Department has carved out a distinctive and authoritative position within the Army, earning enduring institutional credibility. It currently bears the responsibility of handling extensive litigation pending before various judicial and quasi-judicial forums across the country.
In addition, the JAG Department functions as the Army’s principal legal think-tank, rendering considered and timely advice on complex and sensitive legal issues arising from operational requirements, administrative imperatives, disciplinary processes and evolving constitutional jurisprudence. This broad mandate underscores the Department’s pivotal role in upholding the rule of law while enabling effective command and informed decision-making in a dynamic security environment.
The Department has also been instrumental in the enactment and operationalisation of the Inter-Services Organisations Act, providing legal stewardship throughout the legislative process. Concurrently, it has ensured the harmonisation of newly enacted laws with the military justice framework, thereby preserving discipline, operational effectiveness and constitutional propriety within the Armed Forces.
