The Supreme Court has asked the Centre to explain its implementation of a May 2025 judgment directing a progressive reduction of Indian Police Service officers on deputation to senior positions in the Central Armed Police Forces. Hearing a contempt petition moved by retired CAPF officers, the court sought details from Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan regarding administrative compliance with its previous ruling. During the hearing on Wednesday, the Bench questioned why cadre personnel with more than 25 years of service, who have guarded the borders and made sacrifices for the nation, continue to be kept away from responsible posts.
Bench Questions Prolonged Exclusion of Cadre Officers
Justice Ujjal Bhuyan remarked orally that CAPF cadre officers were being completely stifled, adding that a strong lobby appeared to be operating behind the prevailing deputation setup. The court observed that it was unjustified to overlook experienced in-house officers when filling senior administrative posts. These remarks followed an affidavit submitted by the Centre showing that 46 IPS officers had been appointed on deputation to the CAPFs up to the Senior Administrative Grade level even after the May 2025 verdict. Under the ruling delivered on May 23, 2025, by a Bench of Justice A.S. Oka and Justice Bhuyan, posts occupied by IPS officers up to the rank of Inspector General were to be phased down over a two-year window, alongside a mandate to treat Group A CAPF officers as Organised Services.
Centre Outlines Status of Cadre Review Proposals
The government informed the court that comprehensive cadre reviews were initiated across all forces after its review petition was dismissed on October 28, 2025. Data submitted in the Centre’s affidavit revealed that the Border Security Force received the highest post-judgment IPS intake with 13 officers, followed by 11 in the Central Industrial Security Force, nine in the Central Reserve Police Force, seven in the Sashastra Seema Bal, and six in the Indo-Tibetan Border Police. The Department of Personnel and Training stated that proposals covering these five forces were received from the Home Ministry between July 27 and August 3, 2026. The files were referred to the Department of Expenditure on August 17 with official observations, and they will now be placed before the Cadre Review Committee chaired by the Cabinet Secretary.
Controversy Over New 2026 Administration Act
The dispute over career progression has intensified following Parliament’s passage of the CAPFs (General Administration) Act, 2026, which was enacted on April 2 and gazetted on April 9. Five writ petitions challenging the legislation have been filed before the top court, with hearings listed for November 18. The statute reserves 50 percent of Inspector General posts, at least 67 percent of Additional Director General positions, and all Special Director General and Director General ranks for IPS deputation, while removing the earlier 50 percent ceiling for CAPF Group A officers at the Deputy Inspector General level. The Supreme Court has scheduled the contempt matter for its next hearing on September 22.
