The Institute of Military Law shifted to Delhi
   Date :17-Jan-2021

 Institute of Military La
 
 
Staff Reporter :
 
 
Finally, The Institute of Military Law (IML) has been shifted from Kamptee in Nagpur district to Delhi. It was in the offing for past some time, and an auction of unserviceable old items was conducted in December 2020. Though many in the Armed Forces establishments knew about the development, the shifting of the IML from Kamptee to Delhi took place silently. It was only after some of the State Government departments, suppliers, and others received a mail a few days ago that people came to know that IML had ‘relocated’ to Delhi from its old location at Kamptee.
 
The IML celebrated its silver jubilee on May 16, 2015. Some officials in the know of things, who did not wish to be named, said that the decision to shift the IML to Delhi was taken as several important and related Tri-Services establishments were in Delhi. Also, the higher authorities felt that IML would serve its purpose better being in Delhi. Prior to relocating to Delhi, an auction of unserviceable old items which could not be transported to new location considering the utility were auctioned at Kamptee in December 2020. The Institute of Military Law is Alma Mater to Judge Advocate General (JAG) department, which is the legal arm of the Armed Forces.
 
In order to provide formal training to the JAG’s Department and Regimental Officers in the field of Military Law and also to provide a regimental center to the JAG’s Department, a necessity to create the training institute was felt. During 1970, Brigadier Amarpal Singh, the then JAG, planned and mooted the establishment of an Institute that would cater to formal training of officers in Military Law. JAG’s Department records reveal that Lt Col B R Prashar, the then AJAG at Army Headquarters, prepared a research and comprehensive paper titled ‘Establishment of Training Facilities in Military Law’. Subsequently, as JAG, Maj Gen B R Prashar pursued the dream and on May 20, 1985, Ministry of Defence sanctioned setting up of the IML in three phases.
 
The first phase of the Institute commenced its functioning at Shimla. Col G K Sharma was appointed as its first Commandant. In its second phase, it was shifted to Rawalson Lines, Kamptee in Nagpur district during June 1989. On May 16, 1990, the IML at Kamptee was formally inaugurated by Maj Gen A B Gorthi, the then JAG. Col S K Sanan was the first Commandant of the Institute in its second phase. The IML conducts Judge Advocates Basic Course, Judge Advocates Advance Course, Middle Level Commanders and Staff Officers Law Course, and Special List Officers Law Course. Officers from friendly foreign countries like Bangladesh, Botswana, Nepal, Seychelles, Tonga, USA also were trained at the IML. Apart from these, Law Capsules/Symposiums were conducted for Islamic Republic of Iran (2008), Ethiopia (2009), and Sultanate of Oman (2014). Further, IML publishes Military Law Journal, a professional legal journal containing important current judgments of the Supreme Court, various High Courts and Armed Forces Tribunals, and articles on current legal topics, biannually.