MHA Asks CAPFs To Submit Cadre Review Proposals For Their Group ‘A’ Officers

In the circular addressed to the Director Generals (DGs) of all the CAPF, the MHA said, “All Central Armed Police Forces are requested to undertake a comprehensive review of their existing Group ‘A’ cadres and submit detailed cadre review proposals to the Ministry.”

It further said that the proposal “may be furnished, in accordance with the prescribed guidelines, within one month for further examination."   

The MHA directions have been issued to six CAPFs, including the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), the Border Security Force (BSF), the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and the Assam Rifles.

Notably, earlier in May this year, the apex court had ruled that Group A officers of the CAPF from batches dating back to 1986 are recognised as “Organised Services” for “all purposes”.

Senior Administrative Grade (SAG)

The Court in its judgment also ruled that the deputation posts of Indian Police Service (IPS) officers in the Senior Administrative Grade (SAG) or up to the rank of Inspector General (IG) in CAPFs should be “progressively reduced over a period of time, say within an outer limit of two years”.

However, in the meantime, MHA approached the Supreme Court with a review petition, but the same was dismissed, paving the way for service rules or recruitment rules to be amended, allowing all connected benefits of Organised Group A Services (OGAS) to the CAPFs and cadre review within six months.

Currently, 20% of posts in the rank of Deputy Inspector General (DIG) and 50% of posts in the rank of Inspector General (IG) in CAPFs are reserved for IPS officers.

CAPF Group 'A' Officers

Now, with the MHA deciding to go for cadre review, around 13,000 CAPF Group 'A' officers are going to benefit.

A CAPF official said that presently, an officer who joins as Assistant Commandant (AC) takes 25 years to be promoted as a Commandant, whereas he or she should attain the seniority in 13 years. A DIG rank official said that he reached the position after 31 years in service, against the 21-year time required.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is the cadre controlling authority of CAPFs.

The issue was earlier examined by the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court in 2015 and 2019, respectively, when it was decided that CAPFs come in the category of organised services such as the Indian Foreign Service and the India Revenue Service (IRS), among others.

Non-Functional Financial Upgradation

In 2021, Group A officers of the CAPFs approached the apex court again, seeking Non-Functional Financial Upgradation (NFFU), cadre review and restructuring and amendment of recruitment rules to eliminate IPS deputation and allow internal promotions up to SAG.

In 2006, as a part of the Sixth Central Pay Commission’s recommendations, the concept of NFFU was introduced to address stagnation among Group A service officers. So, in case of a lack of vacancies, if an officer of an organised service is promoted, the others of that batch will also get financial upgradation even if they are not promoted.

The Centre, however, on its part told the Court that “being an armed force of the Union, the purpose is to keep each of the CAPFs fit for fighting as well as to ensure coordinated action between the States and the Centre within the federal framework of our country” and therefore, “deputation of IPS officers is necessary”. But the Court said that it cannot be “oblivious of the grievance” expressed by CAPF.