New Delhi: Retired officers of India’s Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) have filed a contempt petition in the Supreme Court against Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan for allegedly failing to implement a 2025 judgment that mandated a progressive reduction of Indian Police Service (IPS) deputation in CAPFs up to the level of Inspector General (IG).
Background: Supreme Court’s 2025 Ruling
On May 23, 2025, the Supreme Court ruled that Group A Executive Cadre officers of CAPFs are to be considered Organised Group A Services (OGAS) for all purposes. The judgment instructed the Union Home Ministry, which controls both CAPFs and IPS, to:
- Progressively reduce IPS deputation in CAPFs up to the level of IG over the next two years.
- Conduct a time-bound review of cadre and service rules for CAPF officers within six months.
This landmark decision aimed to curb the dominance of IPS officers in CAPFs, benefiting around 13,000 CAPF officers, by allowing faster promotions and alleviating career stagnation.
Contempt Petition Filed
Four retired CAPF officials – Mahender Singh Deo, Radha Mohan Meena, Vikesh Kumar, and Sanjay Prakash (original petitioner) – filed the contempt petitions on December 3, 6, and 9, 2025. The petition argues that the lateral entry of IPS officers continues despite the Supreme Court directive and there has been no attempt to amend service rules to comply with the order.
Ministry Response and Internal Review
Following the SC ruling, the Union Home Ministry had challenged the judgment, but on October 28, 2025, the Supreme Court dismissed the review petition, making the 2025 order final.
Subsequently, on December 26, 2025, the Ministry directed the Director Generals (DGs) of all CAPFs – including CRPF, BSF, SSB, ITBP, CISF, and Assam Rifles – to undertake a comprehensive review of Group A cadres and submit proposals to the Ministry.
The Ministry also wrote on November 27, 2025, asking all CAPFs to examine the SC judgment and report the detailed actions needed for compliance, including impact, difficulties, or financial implications.
Cadre Review Process
Cadre reviews are typically conducted every five years to:
- Estimate future human resource requirements
- Plan recruitment and prevent promotional blocks
- Align functional needs with officers’ career expectations
- Enhance overall service efficiency
The last cadre review of CAPFs was in 2016. After the Ministry’s directives, DGs constituted internal committees comprising IPS and CAPF officers to finalize the cadre review.
Currently, 20% of Deputy Inspector General posts and 50% of IG posts in CAPFs are reserved for IPS officers. The SC order intends to reduce IPS dominance and ensure CAPF officers get their due career progression.
Significance of the Judgment
If fully implemented, the Supreme Court ruling will:
- Benefit around 13,000 CAPF officers across ranks
- Reduce career stagnation in CAPFs
- Promote faster internal promotions for CAPF officers
- Strengthen CAPFs’ organizational identity as independent executive services separate from IPS influence
The contempt petition now seeks judicial intervention to ensure timely implementation of the 2025 ruling.
