Syllabus: GS2/Polity and Governance
Context
- The Union Government has filed a review petition against the Supreme Court’s ruling directing a “progressive reduction” in the deputation of Indian Police Service (IPS) officers to the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs).
Background
- In 2015, Group A officers of the CAPFs approached the court seeking Non Functional Financial Upgradation (NFFU), cadre review, restructuring, and changes to recruitment rules to eliminate IPS deputation and enable internal promotions to Senior Administrative Grade (SAG).
- In the case of Sanjay Prakash & Others vs Union of India, 2025, the Supreme Court ruled that:
- Group A officers of CAPFs are to be treated as “Organised Services” for all purposes.
- The deputation of Indian Police Service officers to SAG posts i.e., up to the rank of Inspector General (IG), in CAPFs should be progressively reduced within an outer limit of two years.
- Purpose of the Ruling: The decision aimed to ensure fair career progression for CAPF cadre officers and to curb the longstanding dominance of deputed Indian Police Service officers within Central Armed Pole Forces.
Current Organisational Setup of CAPF
- The CAPFs include the Border Security Force, Central Industrial Security Force, Central Reserve Police Force, Sashastra Seema Bal, and Indo-Tibetan Border Police.
- The Ministry of Home Affairs is the cadre-controlling authority for both IPS and CAPF officers.
- The Centre had mentioned that the deputation of Indian Police Service officers was necessary to maintain the operational readiness of the forces and to ensure Centre-State coordination.
- Reserved Seats: At present, 20% of Deputy Inspector General (DIG) posts and 50% of Inspector General (IG) posts in CAPFs are reserved for IPS officers.
- If implemented, the judgment would significantly curtail IPS dominance in the CAPFs.
Concerns of IPS Appointments in CAPFs
- Stagnation in Career Progression: Due to high reservation of senior ranks for IPS officers, CAPF cadre officers face limited promotional opportunities.
- On average, a CAPF officer takes 25 years to reach the rank of Commandant, a position they should ideally achieve in 13 years.
- Violation of Organisational Integrity: The continued deputation of Indian Police Service officers hampers institutional autonomy and the long-term professionalization of CAPFs as elite forces.
- Legal and Administrative Implications: The Supreme Court’s recognition of CAPF Group A services as Organised Services implies the government must carry out cadre reviews, amend recruitment rules, and grant Non-Functional Financial Upgradation (NFFU).
- Continuing IPS appointments without structural changes is both administratively inconsistent and legally questionable.
- Violation of Natural Justice and Equality: Articles 14 (Right to Equality) and Articles 16 (Equality of Opportunity in Public Employment) come into play, as CAPF cadre officers are denied equal promotional avenues compared to their IPS counterparts.
Policy Recommendations
- Cadre Review and Structural Reforms: Conduct a comprehensive cadre review of all CAPFs to restructure recruitment rules to prioritize internal career progression.
- Transparent Promotion Policies: Establish clear, time-bound, and uniform promotion benchmarks for CAPF officers across all forces.
- Dedicated Leadership Training for CAPF Officers: Institutionalize mid-career training programmes (like LBSNAA or NPA) tailored for CAPF officers to prepare them for leadership roles traditionally occupied by Indian Police Service officers.
- Encourage cross-postings and exposure to Centre-State coordination roles to build broader administrative capability within CAPFs.
- Parliamentary Oversight and Policy Reform: Place CAPF cadre policy reform under parliamentary scrutiny or a standing committee.
- Outline future plans to professionalize CAPFs and reduce dependency on deputation.
Source: TH
