Supreme Court wants affidavit on IPS contributions in CAPF, continues to monitor 2025 judgment

The court ordered the home secretary to file an affidavit within two weeks detailing the procedure for handing over officers on deputation. | Photo credit: The Hindu

The Supreme Court’s order in the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) cadre case, recorded on Saturday (September 5, 2026), specifically asks Union Home Minister Govind Mohan to explain the procedure followed by Indian Police Service (IPS) officers on deputation to the CAPF, including whether the borrowing organizations issued formal directions to the court for such appointment despite IPS’s earlier reasons, and progressive reasons. deputation positions up to the level of a higher administrative grade. The court said it “will continue to monitor the implementation of the judgment” of May 23, 2025.

On September 2, while hearing a contempt petition filed by former CAPF officers regarding the non-implementation of the Supreme Court’s order of 2025 to gradually reduce the representation of IPS in the CAPF over the next two years to the rank of Inspectors General, the court asked Mr. Mohan for an explanation.

‘Strong Lobby’

Justice Ujjal Bhuyan verbally observed that there is a “strong lobby” and the cadre officers of the CAPF are completely suppressed.

On Saturday (September 5), the order recorded by Justice Ujjal Bhuyan and Justice Atul S Chandurkar said, “Before passing the necessary order(s), we direct the Secretary to the Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs, to explain the above statement to bring the IPS officers on deputation to the five CAPFs; what procedure was followed on recall, before bringing the above officers. department for deputation etc. and the reasons for their deputation irrespective of judgment of this Court directing that the number of posts reserved for deputation in the CAPF cadre up to the level of SAG should be gradually reduced over time, say in an upper limit of two years.

In an affidavit, the Union Home Minister informed the court that 46 IPS officers have been inducted into the CAPF up to the SAG level after the court’s 2025 judgment.

Two weeks time

The court ordered the home secretary to file an affidavit within two weeks detailing the procedure for handing over officers on deputation.

According to the affidavit, Border Security Force (BSF) recruited 13 IPS, Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) 11, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) nine, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) six and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) seven policemen.

To circumvent the 2025 judgment, the government enacted the CAPFs (General Administration) Act, 2026, which was gazetted on April 9. Since then, however, seven lawsuits have been filed challenging the legislation, which are scheduled to be heard in the Supreme Court on November 18.

The law, approved by Parliament on April 2, states that in all CAPFs, 50% of the total posts in the rank of Inspector General, at least 67% posts in the rank of Additional Director General and all posts in the rank of Special Director General and Director General will be filled by deputed IPS officers. Until now, such accounting was done by executive orders. The 50% cap on DIG posts to be filled by Group A CAPF officers has also been lifted, paving the way for a higher percentage of IPS deputations.

Published – 05 Sep 2026 23:22 IST