SC rejects Centre’s plea against reduction of IPS deputation in CAPFs

The Supreme Court has dismissed a review petition filed by the Union government challenging its earlier judgment directing a “progressive reduction” in the deputation of Indian Police Service (IPS) officers to the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs).

In its October 28 order, a Bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan said, “The present petition has been filed seeking review of the judgment dated 23.05.2025 passed in C.A. No. 13104 of 2024. We have carefully gone through the contents of the Review Petition and the papers appended therewith and are satisfied that no case for review of the judgment dated 23.05.2025 is made out. The Review Petition is, accordingly, dismissed.”

On May 23, The Hindu had reported that a Bench comprising Justices A.S. Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan held that the deputation posts of IPS officers in the Senior Administrative Grade (SAG), or up to the rank of Inspector General in the CAPFs, should be “progressively reduced over a period of time, say within an outer limit of two years.” Justice Oka has since retired.

The court had also ruled that Group A officers of the CAPFs constitute “Organised Services” for “all purposes.”

In 2021, Group A officers of the CAPFs approached the top court seeking Non-Functional Financial Upgradation (NFFU), cadre review and restructuring, and amendments to recruitment rules to eliminate IPS deputation and enable internal promotions up to the SAG level.

At present, 20% of posts in the rank of Deputy Inspector General and 50% of posts in the rank of Inspector General in CAPFs are reserved for IPS officers. The court’s decision is expected to significantly curtail IPS dominance within the forces. Approximately 13,000 CAPF officers are likely to benefit from the ruling through faster promotions and reduced stagnation.

The Ministry of Home Affairs serves as the cadre-controlling authority for both the CAPFs and the IPS. The CAPFs include the Border Security Force, Central Industrial Security Force, Central Reserve Police Force, Sashastra Seema Bal, and Indo-Tibetan Border Police.