CAPF Cadre Review: Supreme Court Says Centre Defied Its Order

The Supreme Court on Wednesday, 28 October, said the Centre had violated its direction to carry out a cadre review of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), and asked that the review committee’s proposal be submitted for approval by 30 November. A bench of Justices Manoj Mishra and Ujjal Bhuyan said, “We see that they are in violation of the direction for cadre review,” according to a report by ThePrint.

Affidavit on IPS Deputation Ordered

The court asked Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati to file an affidavit on how many IPS officers are on deputation up to the Senior Administrative Grade level (equivalent to Inspector General) in each force. The figures must be as of 23 May 2025 and up to the next hearing, along with details of the Cadre Review Committee’s proposal.

The bench said it does not expect deputation to fall to zero, but that it must come down gradually. It wants the deputation percentage on 23 May 2025, the date of its earlier judgment, as the baseline.

Also read Seema Chaudhary Permanent Commission: Supreme Court Faults Navy Board

A Review Due Since 2021

The forces involved are the Border Security Force, Central Reserve Police Force, Central Industrial Security Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police and Sashastra Seema Bal. Between them they have 13,491 Group A posts. Of 213 sanctioned posts for IPS deputation, 129 are currently held by IPS officers. An earlier court inquiry had put the number of IPS officers deputed to the five forces at 46.

The 23 May 2025 order asked the Centre to finish the cadre review within six months. Officials have said the review has been due since 2021. For CAPF officers, a review decides how many posts exist at each rank, which governs how quickly cadre officers are promoted. Delays have been a long-running complaint. Related legal developments are on our Daily Updates page.

Next Hearing on 9 December

The case returns to the court on 9 December 2026. By then the Centre must have filed its affidavit, and the 30 November deadline for the proposal will have passed. The bench has not said what it will do if the proposal does not arrive.

Source: Supreme Court judgment of 23 May 2025 on CAPF cadre review (LiveLaw report). Also based on reporting by ThePrint and LiveLaw.

Image: PTI (file photo).