Cabinet Approves Central Armed Police Forces Bill Amid Supreme Court Controversy
The Union Cabinet on Tuesday granted approval to the Central Armed Police Forces (General Administration) Bill, a legislative measure designed to formally retain the provision for deputation of Indian Police Service (IPS) officers at the inspector general (IG) and deputy inspector general (DIG) levels within the CAPFs. This statutory intervention comes as a significant development in the ongoing administrative and legal tussle over senior postings in India's paramilitary forces.
Background: Supreme Court Order and Deputation Posts
The Bill, which is expected to be presented before Parliament in the near future, emerges despite a landmark Supreme Court order from last year. In that ruling, the apex court confirmed the 'organised services' (OGAS) status for Group A CAPF officers for all purposes and explicitly directed the government to progressively reduce deputation posts for IPS officers in the senior administrative grade (SAG), up to the rank of IG, within the CAPFs.
Under the current recruitment rules, 20% of positions at the DIG level and 50% at the IG level are designated as deputation posts reserved for IPS officers. The Supreme Court's decision was widely perceived as a potential career advancement opportunity for approximately 13,000 CAPF cadre officers, who have long voiced grievances about discrimination due to IPS officers occupying these coveted senior positions.
Legal and Administrative Implications
"The CAPF (General Administration) Bill appears to be a strategic move to negate the Supreme Court ruling, which, as the law of the land, would have mandated the government to free up the DIG and IG level posts for CAPF cadre officers," a senior CAPF officer disclosed to The Times of India. The central government had previously filed a review petition against the Supreme Court verdict, but this plea was dismissed in October 2025.
Following the government's failure to implement the court's directive, the petitioners initiated contempt petitions, which are currently under judicial consideration. In a related development, the Centre submitted an affidavit to the Supreme Court on Monday, requesting an additional one-year extension to complete a comprehensive review of existing Group A cadres by the CAPFs and to submit cadre review proposals to the government for action in compliance with the Supreme Court's directives.
Government's Position and Future Steps
The affidavit emphasized that the cadre review exercise is a protracted and complex process that is already underway. This move underscores the government's intent to balance administrative needs with judicial mandates while addressing the structural and personnel requirements of the CAPFs.
The approval of the CAPF Bill highlights the ongoing tension between judicial directives and executive policy-making in matters of internal security and force administration. Stakeholders, including CAPF cadre officers and legal experts, are closely monitoring the situation as it unfolds in Parliament and the courts.
