Why in the News?

The Supreme Court ruled that Group A officers of the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) from batches dating back to 1986 are to be recognised as “Organised Services” for “all purposes”.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• About CAPF (Background, Objective, Types of Forces, Challenges in Career Progression)
• News Summary (Court’s Judgement, Benefit for CAPF, Implications, Govt’s Stand)

Understanding the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs)

• The Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) play a pivotal role in safeguarding India’s internal security and borders.
• It comprises seven key forces:
  • Assam Rifles (AR)
  • Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)
  • Border Security Force (BSF),
  • Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF),
  • Central Industrial Security Force (CISF),
  • Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and
  • Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB)
• CAPFs are under the administrative control of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
• CAPFs are India’s frontline paramilitary forces responsible for diverse internal security tasks, from counter-insurgency to border protection and guarding critical infrastructure.
• Each force has its specialised mandate:
  • BSF: Guards India’s borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh.
  • CRPF: Handles law and order, anti-Naxal operations, and crowd control.
  • CISF: Provides security to industrial units, airports, and government infrastructure.
  • ITBP: Secures the India-China border and performs high-altitude operations.
  • SSB: Guards the Nepal and Bhutan borders.
  • CRPF: Primary role lies in assisting the State/Union Territories in police operations to maintain law and order and counter-insurgency
  • AR: Primary role is to guard the 1,643-kilometre-long Indo-Myanmar border.

Challenges in Career Progression

• Promotion avenues for CAPF officers were historically limited by recruitment rules that favoured IPS officers for senior posts through lateral entry.
• This arrangement led to frustration and delayed promotions, affecting morale and motivation within the force.
• Officers often had to serve 25-30 years before being promoted to key ranks like Commandant or DIG, significantly exceeding standard timelines.

News Summary

• The journey for CAPF officers seeking recognition as part of the Organised Group A Services (OGAS) began over a decade ago.
  • In 2015 and 2019, both the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court acknowledged the eligibility of CAPFs for OGAS status.
  • In 2021, CAPF officers approached the Supreme Court again, citing persistent stagnation due to the dominance of deputed IPS officers.
• Their main demands included:
  • Cadre restructuring
  • Implementation of Non-Functional Financial Upgradation (NFFU)
  • Elimination of lateral entry of IPS officers into their cadre
• The petitioners argued that the existing system violated their professional dignity and stifled growth, leading to widespread demoralization.

Supreme Court’s Ruling

• Recently, a two-judge bench of the Supreme Court delivered a landmark verdict in favour of CAPF officers.
• The ruling mandated that Group A officers of CAPFs from batches as early as 1986 must be treated as part of Organised Group A Services for all service-related matters.
• Key Directions of the Court:
  • IPS deputation in CAPFs, particularly at the SAG and IG levels, must be progressively reduced within two years.
  • Cadre review and restructuring is to be completed within six months to facilitate timely promotions.
  • Recruitment rules must be amended to align with the new framework and mitigate promotion stagnation.

Implications for CAPF Officers

• The judgment is expected to benefit nearly 13,000 Group A CAPF officers.
• Officers will now be eligible for promotions and financial upgrades, including Non-Functional Financial Upgradation (NFFU).
  • Introduced in 2006 through the Sixth Pay Commission, NFFU allows officers to receive financial benefits even if they are not promoted, as long as a batchmate is promoted in another organization.

Government’s Response & Court’s Observation

• The Central Government defended the use of IPS officers in CAPFs, citing the need for federal coordination and high-level experience.
• However, the Supreme Court rejected this justification, affirming that the grievances raised by CAPF officers were genuine.
• The bench commended the dedicated service of CAPF officers and noted that continuous lateral deputation compromises the internal promotion system, which negatively impacts morale, efficiency, and satisfaction.