SC Had Directed Gradual Reduction of IPS Deputations to Ensure Promotion Parity for CAPF Cadre Officers
New Delhi: In a move that appears to defy a recent Supreme Court directive, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has continued appointing Indian Police Service (IPS) officers to senior posts within the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs)—despite clear judicial orders to phase out such deputations.
SC’s Landmark Ruling on IPS Deputations
In a significant judgment delivered on May 23, 2025, in the case of Sanjay Prakash & Others vs Union of India, the Supreme Court ruled that Group A officers of the CAPFs must be treated as part of an Organised Service for all practical purposes.
One of the key directives in the ruling was the progressive reduction—over a two-year period—of IPS officer deputations to senior administrative posts in CAPFs, particularly up to the Inspector General (IG) level. The decision aimed to address promotion stagnation and career uncertainty faced by CAPF officers due to the longstanding dominance of IPS officers in leadership roles.
MHA’s Continued Appointments Raise Eyebrows
Despite the court’s clear mandate, the MHA has since appointed at least eight IPS officers to key CAPF positions ranging from Commandant to IG. Among the most contentious moves is the posting of a 2016-batch IPS officer from the Tripura cadre to the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) as Commandant—a rare instance of deputation at the Superintendent of Police-equivalent rank, drawing scrutiny from legal and administrative quarters.
Lawyers representing the petitioners in the case have since written to the Home Ministry, Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), and the Directors General of all CAPFs, alleging that these appointments violate the Supreme Court’s order and may amount to contempt of court.
Promotion Bottlenecks: A Long-Standing Issue
Currently, 20% of Deputy Inspector General (DIG) posts and 50% of IG posts within the CAPFs are reserved for IPS officers—a policy that has long been criticized for hindering the promotion prospects of regular CAPF cadre officers.
On average, an officer who joins as an Assistant Commandant (AC) may have to wait up to 25 years to be promoted to the Commandant rank, a milestone ideally meant to be achieved in just 13 years. The Supreme Court’s ruling was intended to rectify this disparity and offer career stability to more than 13,000 CAPF officers across the forces.
Limited Compliance, Widening Gap
The CAPFs—including the BSF, CRPF, CISF, SSB, and ITBP—are under the dual administrative control of the MHA, which serves as the cadre-controlling authority for both IPS and CAPF officers.
As of June 23, 2025:
Out of 69 IGP-level posts in CAPFs reserved for IPS officers, 56 are filled
At the DIG level, 93 of 117 IPS-reserved posts are occupied
24 IPS posts remain vacant, yet fresh IPS deputations continue
These figures suggest that the Home Ministry has not curtailed IPS appointments, despite the judicial directive and growing pressure for internal reform.
Policy vs Practice: A Brewing Legal Clash
While the Supreme Court ruling was hailed as a landmark for bureaucratic fairness and CAPF empowerment, the Centre’s apparent non-compliance reflects institutional inertia—or even resistance—within the administrative machinery.
Legal experts warn that continued IPS deputations could trigger contempt proceedings against the Home Ministry if corrective steps are not taken swiftly.
As the two-year implementation window set by the court continues to narrow, the spotlight remains on whether the Centre will align with the judiciary’s mandate or face escalating legal and institutional consequences.
