CAPF Officers Move Supreme Court Against New Act, Challenge Provisions Affecting Promotions and Career Growth

The petitions are being filed in accordance with Article 32 of the Constitution that gives individuals the right to directly approach the Supreme Court for the protection of their fundamental rights. The petitioners had no option but to file petitions in the Supreme Court as they found that this Act had denied them justice and failed to adhere to certain directives issued by the Supreme Court in May 2025.

They believe the new law will not address the long-standing problem of the impasse in the promotion of CAPF cadre officers. The officers have requested the court to declare Sections 3 and 4 of the CAPF (General Administration) Act, 2026, as ultra vires and direct the central government to fully implement the Supreme Court's May 2025 decision.

In its May 23, 2025, decision, the Supreme Court had stated that the deputation of Indian Police Service (IPS) officers up to the Inspector General (IG) level in the Central Armed Police Forces should be gradually reduced to provide more opportunities to cadre officers whose delayed promotions could adversely affect the morale of these forces.

The Supreme Court also dismissed a review petition filed by the central government against this order. Subsequently, the central government introduced the Central Armed Police Forces (General Administration) Bill in Parliament, which was notified as law in April. Section 3 of this Act deals with the regulation of recruitment and service conditions in the Central Armed Police Forces, while Section 4 empowers the central government to amend the schedules.

According to Jagran sources, these petitioner officers have requested that instead of filling up Additional Director General (ADG) level posts in CAPFs only through the deputation of IPS officers, the opportunity should also be made available to cadre officers of the respective forces based on prescribed eligibility.

The government says that the objective of this Act is to create a uniform legal framework for the service conditions of all personnel of the Central Armed Police Forces, thereby eliminating the existing system of different service rules for cadre officers and officers on deputation from the IPS.