New Delhi: The Supreme Court has directed the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to produce the original files relating to cadre review proposals for five Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), seeking to establish whether the Centre complied with the deadline set by its May 2025 judgment.
A bench comprising Justices Manoj Mishra and Ujjal Bhuyan said the enactment of the Central Armed Police Forces (General Administration) Act, 2026, would not affect the earlier direction to conduct cadre reviews. The court wants to examine records of the steps taken by the government to comply with its order of May 23, 2025, including correspondence concerning the review proposals.
The direction came during the hearing of a contempt petition filed by CAPF officers alleging non-compliance with the Supreme Court’s directions. The Centre has also sought additional time to complete the cadre review exercise.
Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Centre, assured the bench that the government had acted in good faith and had nothing to conceal. She undertook to produce the relevant original files at the next hearing.
The court listed the matter for further hearing on October 27, 2026.
Supreme Court Seeks Original Files on CAPF Cadre Review
The Supreme Court has sought the original records to determine whether the Ministry of Home Affairs initiated the cadre review process within the six-month period stipulated in its May 23, 2025, judgment.
The CAPF officers who approached the court have alleged that the ministry issued letters inviting proposals for cadre reviews only after the deadline had expired. They have described the alleged delay as a violation of the court’s directions.
According to the officers, cadre reviews in the forces had not been conducted since 2021, despite the Supreme Court’s subsequent order requiring the exercise to be completed within six months.
The original files are expected to help the bench examine the timeline of the government’s actions, including when the proposals were sought and what steps were taken to implement the judgment.
The Centre has assured the court that the records will be produced at the next hearing.
New CAPF Act Does Not Override Earlier Court Directions
During the hearing, the bench clarified that the Central Armed Police Forces (General Administration) Act, 2026, does not affect the earlier direction to conduct cadre reviews in the five forces.
The law came into force on October 8, 2026, amid an ongoing dispute over the role of Indian Police Service (IPS) officers on deputation to the CAPFs and the career progression of officers belonging to the forces themselves.
The CAPF officers have argued that the new legislation cannot be used to avoid compliance with the Supreme Court’s May 2025 judgment.
The court’s latest direction focuses on whether the Centre complied with the earlier order within the stipulated timeframe. The production of the original files will allow the bench to examine the government’s actions before deciding the issues raised in the contempt proceedings.
Supreme Court Declines to Halt IPS Deputation to CAPFs
The Supreme Court, however, declined to halt the deputation of IPS officers to the CAPFs at this stage.
The bench observed that issuing such a direction without examining the relevant data might not be appropriate, as it could create an administrative vacuum.
The issue of IPS deputation remains central to the wider dispute. CAPF cadre officers have objected to the continued presence of IPS officers in senior leadership positions, arguing that it affects the promotion prospects and career progression of officers who have risen through the ranks within the forces.
The court had earlier sought an explanation from the Union Home Secretary regarding the deputation of 46 IPS officers to five CAPFs, despite its direction to progressively reduce their numbers.
The MHA and the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) were also asked to provide details of the measures taken to comply with the judgment.
What Does the CAPF Act, 2026, Say About Senior Posts?
The Central Armed Police Forces (General Administration) Act, 2026, came into force on October 8. The legislation provides for the allocation of senior leadership positions between IPS officers on deputation and officers serving within the CAPFs.
Under the provisions cited in the ongoing dispute, 50% of Inspector General (IG) posts are reserved for IPS officers on deputation. At least 67% of Additional Director General (ADG) posts are also reserved for deputation, while all posts at the Special Director General (Special DG) and Director General (DG) levels are reserved for IPS officers on deputation.
These provisions have become a major point of contention amid the dispute over cadre management, promotion opportunities and the implementation of the Supreme Court’s earlier judgment.
The CAPF cadre officers maintain that the new legislation does not remove the Centre’s obligation to conduct cadre reviews in accordance with the court’s directions.
Contempt Petition and Centre’s Request for More Time
The proceedings before the Supreme Court involve two key matters: a contempt petition filed by CAPF officers alleging that the Centre failed to comply with the May 2025 judgment, and the government’s application seeking additional time to complete the cadre review exercise.
The officers contend that the Centre failed to meet the six-month deadline and that the subsequent steps taken by the ministry came too late.
The government has maintained that it acted in good faith and has agreed to place the relevant records before the court.
The bench will examine the original files at the next hearing before proceeding further with the issues raised in the case.
What Happens Next?
The Supreme Court has scheduled the matter for October 27, 2026, when the Centre is expected to produce the original files relating to the cadre review proposals.
The records will be important in determining when the ministry initiated the process and whether its actions complied with the timeline set by the May 23, 2025, judgment.
The court has not, at this stage, ordered a halt to IPS deputations to the CAPFs. It has also not finally determined the allegations of contempt.
The next hearing is therefore expected to focus on the documentary record of the Centre’s compliance, alongside the pending application seeking more time for the cadre review.
