Representative image. | Photo credit: Getty Images/iStockphotos
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is considering “legal intervention” in response to the Supreme Court’s decision to “phase down” the deputation of Indian Police Service (IPS) officers up to the rank of Inspector General in the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF), according to an affidavit filed by the ministry in the Supreme Court.
The legislative intervention concerns the enactment of a law on the issue of deputation of IPS to the CAPF and the granting of Organized Group A Service (OGAS) status to CAPF officers.
“With reference to the order dated 28.10.2025, the respondent/opponents file this affidavit. It is stated that the Central Government is considering legal intervention in this regard,” said the affidavit accessed by The Hindu.
Petition for Contempt
The affidavit was filed on February 9 in response to a series of contempt petitions filed against Union Home Minister Govinda Mohan by retired CAPF officers following the alleged non-implementation of the Supreme Court’s 2025 order reducing the representation of IPS to the Senior Administrative Grade (SAG) in the CAPF in the next two years. The contempt motions were filed on December 3, 6, and 9, 2025.
On 23 May 2025, the Supreme Court held that Group A Executive Cadre officers of the CAPF are Group A organized services for all purposes. Apart from ordering the gradual reduction of IPS representation in CAPFS down to IG level over the next two years, the court asked for a time-bound revision of cadre and service rules in six months. MHA filed a review petition challenging the judgment, but the Supreme Court dismissed it on 28 October 2025, making the judgment final.
Next hearing on March 10
During the hearing on February 10, after the Additional Solicitor General (ASG) informed the court about the statutory intervention, a Bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan issued a notice to the Union Home Minister and listed the matter for further hearing on March 10.
Currently, 20% posts in the rank of Deputy Inspector General (DIG) and 50% posts in the rank of Inspector General (IG) in the CAPF are reserved for IPS officers through an executive order. The court’s decision is expected to significantly reduce IPS representation at the CAPF. About 13,000 CAPF officers are likely to benefit from the judgment leading to faster promotions and overcoming stagnation issues. The MHA serves as the cadre control authority for both the IPS and the CAPF.
The SC decision also demanded that the MHA amend the CAPF service rules, complete cadre review and extend OGAS benefits to CAPF officers within six months.
Staff overview
A cadre review is usually conducted every five years to estimate future human resource requirements, plan recruitment to avoid future promotion blocks, align functional needs with the legitimate career expectations of its members, and increase the efficiency of the service. The last CAPF cadre revision was done in 2016.
Following MHA’s letter dated November 27, 2025, the CAPF DG constituted internal committees comprising IPS and CAPF officials to complete the cadre review. However, a CAPF officer said there is no point in reviewing the cadre unless there are revised service rules.
The CRPF includes the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Border Security Force (BSF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and Assam Rifles.
Published – 14 Feb 2026 21:02 IST