Bill on IPS deputation at IG level in CAPFs cleared

NEW DELHI: The Union cabinet on Tuesday approved the Central Armed Police Forces (General Administration) Bill draft, a statutory intervention purportedly aimed at retaining the provision for deputation of IPS officers at the level of inspector general (IG) and deputy inspector general (DIG) in the CAPFs. The Bill, likely to be brought before Parliament soon, comes despite the Supreme Court ruling of last year, confirming 'organised services' (OGAS) status for group A CAPF officers for all purposes and directing the govt to progressively reduce deputation posts of IPS officers in the senior administrative grade (SAG) up to the rank of IG in CAPFs. As per the current recruitment rules for CAPFs, 20% of the posts at DIG level and 50% at the IG level are deputation posts for IPS officers.The SC ruling was seen as a potential career boost for around 13,000 CAPF cadre officers, who had been complaining of discrimination on account of IPS officers occupying the plum DIG and IG level posts."The CAPF (General Administration) Bill appears a move to negate the SC ruling, which being the law of the land, would have required the govt to free up the DIG and IG level posts for CAPF cadre officers. The Centre had earlier filing a review petition in court against the SC verdict, though it was dismissed by the court in Oct 2025. However, when the govt still did not implement the SC ruling, the petitioners filed contempt petitions, which are in the process of being heard," a CAPF officer told TOI.Interestingly, the Centre had filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court on Monday seeking a further time period of one year for completion of a comprehensive review for existing Group A cadres by the CAPFs and submission of cadre review proposals to govt for action in compliance with SC directions.It was submitted that the cadre review exercise is long drawn and already stands initiated. However, given that contempt petitions are pending before the SC, the govt said it is actively examining the matter and considering statutory and regulatory intervention, wherever necessary. "The matter involves policy, financial and structural implications having long term administrative consequences, and therefore requires careful and due consideration at each state," it was submitted in the affidavit.The CAPF (General Administration) Amendment, a CAPF officer told TOI, seeks to override these problems by adding the provision for deputation of IPS officers in senior CAPF posts in the Act itself, rather than relying on the rules that the SC has already ruled against.