CAPF officers demoralised that Centre is not giving them their due, Samajwadi MP tells Rajya Sabha
A Samajwadi Party MP raised in Rajya Sabha the issue of demoralisation among Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) officers, citing the Centre's delay in implementing the Supreme Court's May 2025 order.
The Supreme Court, in its May 23, 2025 judgment in Sanjay Prakash & Ors vs Union of India, ruled that Group A Executive Cadre officers of CAPFs are entitled to all benefits of Organised Group A Services (OGAS).
The Court also directed the government to progressively reduce the deputation of IPS officers in CAPFs up to the Inspector General (IG) level within two years.
The Centre's review petition against the ruling was dismissed by the Supreme Court on October 28, 2025.
The MP called for quick implementation of the order and reduction of IPS officers' deputation quota in the CAPFs.
Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) — Structure and Mandate
CAPFs are seven central paramilitary forces under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA): CRPF, BSF, CISF, ITBP, SSB, NSG, and Assam Rifles. They are distinct from the Indian Army and are deployed for internal security, border guarding, anti-insurgency, and VIP protection. Their officers belong to separate Group A Central Services cadres.
Key Details
- CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force): largest CAPF, deployed in counter-insurgency and anti-Naxal operations.
- BSF (Border Security Force): guards India's borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh.
- CISF: industrial and airport security; ITBP: Indo-Tibet border; SSB: Nepal and Bhutan borders.
- CAPFs function under the command structure of the MHA; senior leadership posts (DG, Special DG, ADG) have historically been held by IPS officers on deputation.
- As of the Supreme Court's ruling, CAPF cadre officers were facing promotion stagnation of up to 14 years for a first promotion, compared to 4 years in comparable organized services.
The parliamentary debate directly relates to career conditions in the very forces responsible for India's internal security — stagnation affects morale, retention, and operational effectiveness.
Organised Group A Services (OGAS) — Significance
Organised Group A Services (OGAS) are structured Central Government services with defined cadre rules, clear promotional pathways, and pay protections. Being classified as OGAS entitles a service to benefits such as Non-Functional Financial Upgrade (NFFU), assured career progression, and protection against senior posts being filled by lateral entrants from other services.
Key Details
- The Central Government had recognised CAPF Group A executive cadres as OGAS in 2019, but benefits were not uniformly implemented.
- NFFU (Non-Functional Financial Upgrade) ensures that officers of an organised service receive pay parity with their batch-mates in other services, even if promotion posts are unavailable.
- The Supreme Court's May 2025 ruling confirmed OGAS status and directed time-bound cadre review within six months.
- The Central Armed Police Forces (General Administration) Bill, 2026, approved by the Union Cabinet, has been controversial for potentially codifying IPS deputation quotas — 50% IG posts, at least 67% ADG posts, and 100% Special DG and DG posts for IPS officers — effectively defying the Court's direction.
The MP's intervention highlights the structural tension between CAPF officers' legitimate career aspirations (now legally upheld) and the entrenched IPS deputation system in senior paramilitary leadership.
IPS Deputation in CAPFs — Constitutional and Governance Issues
IPS (Indian Police Service) is an All India Service under Article 312 of the Constitution. Historically, DG-level and top command positions in CAPFs were filled by IPS officers on deputation, limiting promotional avenues for CAPF cadre officers who serve their entire careers in these forces.
Key Details
- Article 312: Parliament may create new All India Services at the request of Rajya Sabha (by two-thirds majority) — basis for IPS, IAS, IFS.
- Organised services created specifically for CAPFs do not have the same cross-service flexibility; top posts should ideally be filled by their own cadre officers.
- The Rajya Sabha, as a key parliamentary forum, discusses service matters and grievances of central government employees, making it appropriate for such concerns to be raised there.
- The Supreme Court's dismissal of the review petition (Oct 28, 2025) makes the OGAS judgment final and binding — non-implementation amounts to contempt of court.
The MP's demand directly invokes parliamentary oversight of the executive's compliance with a Supreme Court ruling, touching both separation of powers and internal security governance.
- Seven CAPFs under MHA: CRPF, BSF, CISF, ITBP, SSB, NSG, Assam Rifles
- Supreme Court judgment: May 23, 2025 — Sanjay Prakash & Ors vs Union of India — OGAS status confirmed
- Review petition dismissed: October 28, 2025
- Career stagnation in CAPFs: up to 14 years for first promotion (vs. 4 years in comparable services)
- SC direction: progressively reduce IPS deputation up to IG level within 2 years
- CAPF Bill 2026: proposes 50% IG posts, 67%+ ADG posts, 100% Special DG/DG posts for IPS (controversial)
- Article 312: constitutional basis for All India Services including IPS
- OGAS benefit: Non-Functional Financial Upgrade (NFFU) and clear promotional pathway