New Delhi: In a significant legal setback to the Union Government, the Supreme Court has dismissed the Centre’s review petition seeking reconsideration of its May 23, 2025 verdict on IPS deputation in Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs). The original judgment had directed a phased reduction in the number of IPS officers in CAPFs to promote career growth for CAPF officers.
May 23 Verdict: Key Directives
The apex court, in its May 23 judgment, held that CAPFs—including the ITBP, BSF, CRPF, CISF, and SSB—are part of the Organised Group-A Services (OGAS) for all cadre-related matters. It further instructed that:
- IPS officers holding posts in CAPFs up to the Senior Administrative Grade (SAG), including ranks up to Inspector General (IG), should be gradually reduced.
- The reduction should occur over a period of time, with an outer limit of two years, to provide CAPF officers better chances of promotion.
- A comprehensive cadre review for all CAPFs, which was due in 2021, must be completed within six months.
Supreme Court Rejects Centre’s Review Petition
A two-judge bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan rejected the Centre’s plea in chambers on October 28, noting that no grounds had been made out to reconsider the May verdict.
“The application for oral hearing is rejected. 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 May 23, 2025 is made out. The Review Petition is, accordingly, dismissed,” the bench stated.
The court also disposed of the pending interlocutory application related to the petition and declined the Centre’s request for an open court hearing.
Centre’s Arguments and Legal Context
The Union Government had filed the review petition on July 12, arguing that IPS deputation was necessary to maintain operational readiness in CAPFs and ensure effective Centre-State coordination. The petition also sought reconsideration of related issues, including Non-Functional Financial Upgradation, cadre review, and amendment of recruitment rules to eliminate IPS deputation from certain posts.
Review petitions are legal requests to re-examine an earlier verdict, typically filed when a party believes there is a legal or procedural error in the original judgment. In this case, the review was heard in chambers without oral arguments.
Implications of the Order
With the dismissal of the review petition, the Centre’s last legal recourse is now a curative petition, which has historically low chances of success. The May 23 judgment remains in force, mandating:
- Phased reduction of IPS officers in senior CAPF positions.
- Promotion opportunities and career progression for CAPF officers.
- Timely completion of cadre reviews and restructuring of existing service rules.
The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) had earlier been instructed to take an appropriate decision within three months of receiving reports from the Ministry of Home Affairs regarding cadre review and service rule revisions.
Conclusion
The Supreme Court’s order reinforces the principle of cadre-based promotions in CAPFs and ensures that IPS deputation in senior CAPF posts is gradually reduced, creating fairer growth opportunities for CAPF officers. This ruling marks a crucial moment in the ongoing debate over IPS postings in central paramilitary forces.
