Indian armed forces once again proved their valour and decisive victory over the long time enemy Pakistan in Operation Sindoor. India’s armed forces are the last answer of our nation to the enemy. Their morale, their honour and dignity is directly linked with the sovereignty of our nation. Our armed forces are true symbol of bharat and their actions represent Bharatiyata.
Shailesh Kumar, National Defence
New Delhi, 18 May 2025
Protection of their dignity, honour and valour is not just a moral duty of every Indian living in any geographical terrain, it must also be a constitutional obligation of every Indian irrespective of whatever position of power one yields or wields. Protection of dignity and right of a soldier or a veteran, or martyrs through legal and constitutional provisions is need of the hour.
This should also be integral part of our National Defence doctrine. National Defence urges Union Government to enact a special parliamentary law to protect the dignity, honour, valour and rights of armed forces personnel. So that no individual, institution or organization in any way slander, denigrate or belittle the dignity and honour of soldiers or veterans.
The law should also make provision that no one can damage or defile the honours given to soldiers or veterans. The honours bestowed on a soldier shall be cherished for life and shall not be revoked except for legal, statutory reasons or through statutory procedures.
Any person as individual, institution or organisation who infringes on the reputation and dignity of soldiers, martyrs or veterans, or severely damage the dignity, honour and pride of martyrs or damages the image or statutes or medals or uniform of martyred soldiers should be prosecuted according to law.
However, if any soldier serving or retired if commits any crime or violates law may face rule of law asper law of the land, as per statutory provisions for any normal service member or a citizen.
Provisions of the codified law should be included in Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita and a wider publicity campaign must be run to sensitize our citizenry. The move not only boost the morale of our armed forces who are steadfast ready to make supreme sacrifice to protect the motherland but also strengthen national unity, integrity and sovereignty.
In view of this the Indian armed forces should be empowered to file lawsuits against individuals, institutions, organisations or entities who infringe on the reputation of soldiers, martyrs, veterans or the military. Media outlets and individuals who spread false, malafide or insulting content about the armed forces may face legal consequences, including takedown orders, fines, and even arrests.
Provisions of codified jail term or detention will deter any harm to our national security. However, there must be enough counter-balance in the law to protect human rights, freedom of expression, healthy criticism and free flow of rightful information. There must be provisions to counter any misuse of such a law by a junta or political group to harm an individual, institution or organisation or to further a political or military narrative by military- industrial complex. Any indefinite detention must not be supported in such a law to protect human rights of common man.
I am sure, the Government of India would understand the need of such a law given various scenarios of hybrid warfare and information warfare emerging where foreign powers use civil military tools to wage wars and create military, social and political unrest. I on behalf of National Defence viewers, and fellow citizens salute our armed forces.
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