New Delhi: More than 3,000 serving Group A officers from India’s Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) have approached the Supreme Court challenging the constitutional validity of the Central Armed Police Force (General Administration) Act, 2026. The petitioners, who include gallantry award recipients and women officers from various CAPFs, contend that the newly enacted law undermines their promotional prospects by reserving a significant proportion of senior leadership posts for Indian Police Service (IPS) officers on deputation. They argue that the legislation effectively nullifies a landmark Supreme Court judgment delivered in May 2025, which had directed the gradual reduction of IPS deputation in CAPFs and recognised Group A Executive Cadre officers as Organised Group ‘A’ Services.
The CAPF Act, passed by Parliament on April 2, 2026, and notified on April 9, introduces statutory provisions governing recruitment and service conditions within the CAPFs. Under the law, 50% of Inspector General (IG) posts, at least 67% of Additional Director General (ADG) posts, and all Special Director General (SDG) and Director General (DG) posts are to be filled by IPS officers on deputation. The legislation also omits the earlier provision reserving 50% of Deputy Inspector General (DIG) posts for CAPF Group A officers, a move that petitioners argue could further increase IPS representation at senior levels.
The officers have sought a declaration from the Supreme Court that Sections 3 and 4 of the CAPF Act are unconstitutional. Section 3 empowers the government to regulate recruitment and service conditions notwithstanding any court judgment while specifying the percentage of senior posts reserved for IPS officers. Section 4 authorises the Union Government to amend the schedules attached to the Act through notification whenever considered necessary in the public interest.
In their petitions, the officers have also sought implementation of the Supreme Court’s May 23, 2025 judgment in Sanjay Prakash v. Union of India, which directed the government to progressively reduce IPS deputation up to the rank of Inspector General over two years and undertake a time-bound review of cadre and service rules. The petitioners have requested that Higher Administrative Grade (HAG) posts in the CAPFs be filled from among eligible executive cadre officers rather than being reserved exclusively for deputed officers.
The Ministry of Home Affairs had earlier challenged the 2025 judgment through a review petition, which was dismissed by the Supreme Court in October 2025. Subsequently, after contempt proceedings were initiated by retired CAPF officers alleging non-compliance with the judgment, the government introduced the CAPF (General Administration) Bill, 2026, which was later enacted into law.
The case is expected to have significant implications for the career progression, cadre management, and leadership structure of India’s five CAPFs—the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). The Supreme Court will now examine whether the provisions of the new Act are consistent with constitutional principles and its earlier judicial pronouncements. The matter remains sub judice, and the constitutional validity of the legislation will ultimately be determined by the Court.
