New Delhi: The Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) have decided against upgrading or amending their Recruitment Rules (RRs) which would give them pay parity with IPS officers, ThePrint has learnt.
The decision was taken Tuesday at a closed-door meeting between the new home secretary, Ajay Kumar Bhalla, and director generals of all the CAPFs.
If the RRs are amended, then the lateral deputation of IPS officers in the CAPFs would end eventually. All the forces are currently headed by IPS officers.
“The DGs basically told the home secretary that they are not in favour of upgrading the RRs, and that they would like to fight the battle in court,” said a senior Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) official on condition of anonymity.
“The home secretary told them that if they can fight the matter out in court without inviting contempt from the court, they can go ahead with the existing RRs.”
It was also decided at the meeting that all the cases of Non-Functional Financial Upgradation (NFFU) would be submitted without revising the RRs.
NFFU is the process by which whenever an IAS officer gets empanelled at a particular rank at the Centre, all their Group-A service counterparts also get upgraded to the same rank on a non-functional basis after two years irrespective of whether they are actually promoted or not.
The CAPFs include the CRPF, Central Industrial Security Force, Border Security Force, Sashastra Seema Bal, Indo-Tibetan Border Police and National Security Guard.
Also read: Huge shortage of IPS officers for central deputation, especially at DIG & SP levels
How the controversy started
In February this year, the Supreme Court ruled that officers from the CAPFs will be granted NFFU and other pay benefits, which their counterparts in all organised ‘Group A’ services (OGAS) are entitled to. Subsequently, in July, the Union Cabinet gave its nod to the proposal.
The CAPFs believe that the grant of OGAS status has to be followed by an upgradation of Recruitment Rules, without which the grant of the status would be meaningless.
However, their IPS counterparts believe that doing so is not necessary.
This seemingly minor technicality has been at the heart of a long-drawn tussle between CAPFs and IPS officers.
What the rules say
“Upgrading the RRs would mean that the reservation of IPS officers in CAPFs would come to an end because the DoPT (Department of Personnel and Training) orders clearly state that once a service becomes an organised Group A service, lateral deputation of officers from other services stops there,” said the official quoted above.
“But that can only be done if the Recruitment Rules of the CAPFs are upgraded to reflect their OGAS status, which these IPS officers are not allowing.”
If the RRs of these forces are not upgraded, the deputation of IPS officers in these forces will continue.
The IPS Association has even filed a plea in the Supreme Court to ascertain whether or not their deputation in these forces can continue in the aftermath of the top court judgment.
“Nowhere is it mentioned that just because a force has been granted OGAS, their RRs have to be upgraded,” said a senior IPS officer, who was in the IPS Association earlier.
“The Association has filed a clarificatory plea, so it is only correct for the forces to not upgrade the RRs in the interim, and that is what has been decided,” added the IPS officer who didn’t wish to be named.
Also read: How one line in a Supreme Court order has led to a clash between IPS & CAPF officers
Its a kind of Jameendaari system for IPS to come at the top to rule despite their clan matches with super babus n not with armed forces. Since the political bosses appeared to be prisoners of super babus, implementation of NFFU is dragged n delayed. When the DOPT has assigned status OGAS,why cant RRrules be framed? just because it doesnt suit these ruling babus? I think their entry in CAPF be made at middle level of dy comdt onwards if they want to rule at the top.That will qualify them professionally to head the Force later.
CAPF has grown into a very large force and its time for their officers to head the organization and prove their worth.
Whynot a separate cadres is to be formed among IPS for CAPFs/CPMFs who could be inducted ln these forces since very beginning??
The evil design of IPS Association can be seen clearly from this article. My question is are they (IPS Officers) above the judiciary? Or the legislature? Supreme Court should come down heavy on the IPS Association because they need a lesson to be taught.
Direct cadre Officers in CAPFs are deprived from all benefits… NFFU & OGAS are yet to be implemented even after a lapse of 9months!!! IPS Officers are denying to implement the honourable SC Order.
These IPS and IAS officers should be kicked out from the domain of paramilitary forces forever.
MHA is fully aware that RRs have to be DOPT circular of 2009 compliant. Old RRs are thus left redundantant and fresh to be drawn to implement Appex court judgement specifically all beaurocrats are OGAS beneficiary since 2006. In case bureaucrats are not aware of this, then they are to be treated as non-performers and be treated under sec 56 (j) FR SR. Time for Hon’ble Home Minister to intervene to ensure implementation of court judgement in true letter and spirit.
Hon’ble HM must intervene as early as possible and listen to cadre officers of all CPMFs and not CAPFs.These forces are not armed police forces, these are para military forces and IPS have no domain knowledge. IPS may continue in CPOs but not in these forces. All state police are starving of leadership and crime control a big question mark.
Hence , I appeal to Hon’ble HM to call cadre officers of all CPMFs and solve this very sensitive matter. Cadre officers का कोई माई बाप नहीं है और उन की कोई सुनवाई नहीं है। फिर भी वो डिसिप्लिन में रहते हुए देश की सेवा कर रहे हैं।
There should be a committee formed consisting of cabinet members and opposition members in the parliament as well as the chief justice of india to clarify and ensure the apex court’s vision in its judgement as well as to implement the right decision regarding the deputation of IPS in the forces. If IPS association wants the deputation so badly then they should agree to mandatory field posting of 6 months a year in naxal affected and disturbed areas.
Yes. CAPF should be allowed to have their own chiefs. I don’t think that an IPS officer can understand better than the officer of the existing paramilitary force. Why not we just appoint a member of parliament as the head of these IPS officers and that MP is going to teach them a good lession. Government should feel the sentiments of CAPF.
These IPS DGs are continuous doing absurd things and for these government have to face embrassment time and again .Their selfishness drag self-imposed litigation for government of India time to time.govt pays whose amount to lawyers as fee for defend itself in court for absurdity of these babu .amount given to these lawyers as fee is public money and spending public money for self interest of a particular service is illegal.Department of personnel and training (DOPT) has issued clear cut instructions regarding the framing of recruitment rules for organised group A service (OGAS)and non-OGAS. Honorable Courts in the verdict clearly accepted CAPFs OGAS status since 1986.Existing recruitment rules were framed when government was not accepting the OGAS status. These RRs were made on Non-OGAS pattern hence in present circumstances exiting recuritment rules are null and void due to wrong following of guidelines .Recuritment rules which will be framed on OGAS pattern are valid only.Now political leadership and eminent lawmakers of country must interfere in this matter otherwise government will face serious contempt from honourable court which will not be good for our democratic set-up.Honour of CAPF personnel must be maintained who lays their whole life in maintaining unity and integrity of the our country .They have full right of career progression at par with other OGAS.
This case need to be seen objectively and court/cabinet order should be honoured. For instance, NFFU is a facility extended to OGAS, and also extended to IPS and IFoS, which is merely a financial upgradation as a fall back option in the event of non-promotion, and it is given two years senior officers to the corresponding IAS batches. With this bigger aim in mind, if SR needed to be amended then it is requirement of the day. IPS association can not twist the facts and ministries (MHA&DoPT) will set ot alright. New HS will take historic decision without getting influenced by others.
IPS Directors General of CAPFs have ganged up as if they are compact and poweful trade union where interst of their own catagory is paramount rather than interst of the Forces they are heading.No loyalty or sevice to Nation,no fear of Supereme Court or High Court judgments or Govt.
Hope our pragmatic Home Minister Amit Shah will understand them well and stop gross injustice to CAPF who are not allowed to make Association on plea that it will compromise discipline.Is that means no discipline is required in IPS officers and required for the Force personnel they are commanding
The motto of premier CAPF ,CRPF is Service &Loyality where as for their D.G. it is ok if it is Service for self and Loyality to his own tribe.
Some on high up may understand and take corrective and just action before it is too late.
It is incorrect to say CAPF which is with Status of OGAS want parity with IPS. Yes, parity is needed with IAS from where IPS also draw same as OGAS. CIPSA is also party to case in court agaist CAPF thus MHA must behave mature to take up implementation of OGAS/ NFFU/NFSG in their hands.
MHA must understand that CAPF is one of its wing as good as IPS services. Thus implementation of OGAS/ NFFU/NFSG in CAPF must be in neutral hands or with cadre officers.