Senior IPS Officers Uneasy As SC Rules To Shrink Lateral Entry Into CAPFs

In its order last month, the court, though, has conceded and found merit in the Centre’s argument that IPS officers are deputed in senior positions in the CAPFs to maintain the character of these organisations as "unique central armed forces". But the court also maintained that it could not ignore the genuine grievances of Group ‘A’ officers of the CAPFs.

It also observed that CAPF personnel hold a grievance against the lateral entry of IPS officers at higher grades of the CAPFs, because this prevents timely promotions of the CAPF Group A officers. “Consequently, there is a great deal of stagnation. Such stagnation can adversely impact the morale of the forces,” it said.

Hence, the Apex Court has ruled that CAPFs — including the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Border Security Force (BSF), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), Assam Rifles (AR), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and National Security Guard (NSG) — should now be treated as “organised services” for all practical purposes.

A direction has also been issued to the government, to progressively reduce the number of IPS officers deputed in the CAPFs.

Notably, IPS and CAPF officers are recruited via the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). While the former get selected via the Civil Services Examination, the latter qualify via the CAPF (Assistant Commandant) Examination.

IPS Officers Unhappy

However, the SC ruling has raised concern among IPS officers, as many believe that one of their major avenues of central deputation will get substantially reduced. A senior serving IPS officer said, “While IAS officers come on central deputation and join Union ministries in different ranks, we come for central government duties and get posted in the CAPFs in large numbers.”

“Disallowing that (CAPF deputations) is not only unfair to us, but also hampers the Centre-state balance. After all, IPS officers are the link between state governments and the Centre, as CAPFs administratively report to the Centre, and operationally to the states,” the officer said, adding that IPS presence in CAPFs is necessary to maintain the all-India character of law and order.

In the absence of Organised Group A Service (OGAS) for CAPFs, all posts at the DG level, 75 per cent at the ADG level, 50 per cent at IG level and 20 per cent at the Director Inspector General (DIG) level in these paramilitaries are reserved for IPS officers — an arrangement that is seen as deeply unfair and demoralising by CAPF officers.

The SC, in its order, said, “The number of posts earmarked for deputation (to IPS) in the cadres of the CAPFs, up to the level of Senior Administrative Grade (SAG), should be progressively reduced — over a period of time — say within an outer limit of two years.”

Challenging this, another IPS officer, on condition of anonymity, claimed the courts have no right to decide how the government runs an organisation under it. “All these matters are decided by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT). So, we do not consider it settled. It will go back to the court if need be,” he said.

The officer also said that the government has increased the recruitment of IPS officers over the past few years. From 150 IPS officers recruited in 2019, the number has jumped to 200 officers annually since 2020. “Where will all these officers go, if their deputations stop? Should we all man police stations?” he wondered.

Workaround Suggestions

However, suggestions are coming from experts that a workable solution could be arrived at, by integrating CAPF officers with the IPS. Former Director of the National Police Academy, Kamal Kumar, has reportedly suggested that CAPF Group “A” cadres could be integrated within the IPS.

“The National Police Commission had, in its Sixth Report, made a useful recommendation for the creation of an IPS cadre for CAPFs. This pragmatic recommendation, which has remained unimplemented, can now be implemented — perhaps with some necessary modifications. It appears an imperative now, given the dire need to ensure cohesion in the higher echelons of the country’s internal security apparatus,” he said.

He added that to include CAPF officers into the IPS cadre, a workable proposition would entail identifying all senior posts (commandants and above) of various CAPFs as ‘senior duty posts’.