New Delhi: After a two-month-long standoff between officers of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and their IPS counterparts, the Modi government has decided against granting pay parity to the central forces.
Instead, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued an Office Memorandum Tuesday, stating that the Non-Functional Financial Upgradation (NFFU) would be granted to officers of the central police forces when they complete 23 years in service.
This, central police forces officers said, is an “eyewash” since it is not a condition laid out for granting of NFFU to other Group-A services such as the IPS, IRS, IFS, among others.
The NFFU refers to the process through which whenever an IAS officer gets empanelled at a particular rank at the Centre, all their Group-A service counterparts also get elevated to the same rank on a non-functional basis after two years, irrespective of whether they are actually promoted or not. Non-functional basis officers will
In effect, the home ministry has not upgraded the service rules of the central police forces despite the Supreme Court granting them the status of Organised Group A Services (OGAS) in February, with the Cabinet subsequently approving the decision. Service rules refers to rules that govern promotion, salary and pension, among others.
The move came as a shock to central police officers, who have aggressively campaigned for pay parity with IPS officers in the last two months — writing hundreds of letters to the home minister, home secretary and spearheading a social media campaign to ensure compliance of the SC order by the government.
The CAPF includes the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), the Border Security Force (BSF), the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), Assam Rifles (AR), the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and the National Security Guard (NSG).
ThePrint reached the home ministry spokesperson for a comment but there was no response. However, a senior IPS officer familiar with the development explained the government’s move.
“The Supreme Court order merely gave the forces OGAS status in order to grant them NFFU — the court said it in so many words that since NFFU is only granted to Organised Group A Services, CAPFs should be given this status,” the officer said.
“It is only the CAPFs which thought that their service rules would be revised because of this judgment.”
‘Stepchildren of the country’
The central police officers are now hitting out at the government decision, calling it a “complete betrayal”.
“This is a complete betrayal and an eyewash,” said a senior CRPF official. “The highest court of the country has granted us OGAS, and the government seems to have once again buckled under pressure of the IPS lobby to not revise our service conditions to bring them in sync with our new status.”
A Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) notification issued in 2009 states that it is incumbent upon the government to revise the recruitment rules of any service that is granted Organised Group ‘A’ status.
The central police officers believe that this rule has been deliberately overlooked by the government.
“How can they discriminate between services that under law have the same status?” asked V.P.S. Panwar, a retired CRPF inspector general.
“We fought in the courts of this country for years to get our due and we have once again been betrayed… We are the ones who fight for this country in Jammu-Kashmir, Naxal areas, etc. and this is how shabbily we are treated,” Panwar said.
“We are being treated like the step-children of the country we fight for.”
‘Will file for contempt again’
Meanwhile, the home ministry Tuesday also moved the Supreme Court asking for more time to complete the task of fixing the salary to be given under NFFU to all officers.
In August, the Supreme Court had asked the government to expedite the process of granting better pay benefits to central police forces and complete the process within two months.
The SC’s directions had come in response to a contempt petition filed by CAPF officers for non-compliance of its orders.
“We are probably going to file for contempt again,” said the senior CRPF official quoted above. “They have made a mockery of the sentiments of thousands of CAPF officers… We are feeling let down, helpless and demotivated.”
Also read: CAPFs won’t upgrade their Recruitment Rules for pay parity with IPS officers
It is unfortunate that , the officers of CAPF who are basically promotes from lower rank are comparing themselves with IPS/ IAS and trying to manipulate the existing provisions including hierarchy of rank structure in CAPF. If it is so , they shaould appear UPSC and crack the exams to become IPA/IAS, I am being a member of one such CAPF since last 28 years can well opined that the 90% officers of CAPF who are basically promoted from lower rank does not have the basic capability to run an administration including its field and static formations . Though they become so called member of Group A Service , in reality they still have very narrow approach in dealing issues including policy matters unlike IAS/IPS officers . They are more interested on personnel benefits including financial matters . Thus providing the OGAS status and NFFU to these so called Group A (Promote) CAPF officers would infact destroy the working capacity CAPF itself . Better give more benefit to lower ranks below Group A who works hard at grass root level but with no grievances unlike So called group A personnel of the force.
Reading at all comments, I can only see heart burn. No specific logic. May be capf officers know their force better and may take few welfare measures. But end of day, the work they should do is in states not in air. With this attitude, don’t know how will these officers co-ordinate and work. There must be some logic behind all India service. IPS need to be top position of all internal security agencies. Without that, everyone will work in opposite directions which is not a good situation for country.
They come on deputation to CAPFs on the Inspector General (IG) rank and above. These are key posts with all the policymaking powers. But, they come to enjoy the plum-postings. Their tenure here is all about getting lavish offices with designer decor done, getting the best of Government cars and bungalows, and infinite other perks, while showing utter indifference to the men they command.
The cadre officers of CAPFs are much more worthy and capable to sit on the topmost seats and command their own men — the men with whom they’ve trained, taken punishments and broke bread in training centres, been in combat and life-threatening situations, in serving the same force for so long. The cadre officers command the respect and love of their men. “Mera Sahab badhiya aadmi hai. Mere saath commando course kiya tha. Jawan ka khoob dhyan rakhta hai. Sahab DG banega toh bal ko sudhaar dega”, a Hawaldaar once told me pointing to a senior cadre officer of CRPF. It is not like an IPS of West Bengal cadre coming to chill in BSF or CRPF on deputation for 4 years. The cadre officers are UPSC qualified Gazetted Officers with expertise in their respective areas of responsibility. They had been commanding their jawans since the time they joined these forces, and after years of service when the time comes to make policy decisions for the betterment of their forces, they are pushed aside by IPS officers having no sense of belongingness for the CAPFs.
These forces heavily lean towards military culture and their work ethic. Many feel that using the term Armed “Police” for them is a misnomer, hence the term”Paramilitary forces” is also interchangeably used with CAPFs. Right from the Rank structure to the training, these forces are essentially like our much respected Indian Army, and I’ll explain how they’re not Police. Recently, at the last rites ceremony of ex-Bihar CM Jagannath Mishra in Supaul, Bihar Police was to honour him with 21 fire-shots. Can you imagine that none of their 21 rifles worked! The readers may remember how the “thain thain” sounds were made by a UP Policeman to mimick gunshots as his weapon stuck during an encounter. This has not, and can never happen in the CAPFs. My point is not to insult the State Police. They also do wonderful work at times. My point is that the IPS are meant to head the State Police because there, policemen do not die when weapons seize, which is quite often. There, things do not come down to firce gun-battles, involving projectile bombs and rocket launchers. How can the IPS know about these, having infinitesimal know-how of heavy weaponry and combat! They can’t even ensure that their rifles work in a last rites ceremony, and take faulty weapons to encounter sites! The CAPFs, however, are thoroughly professional with the upkeep of their weapons and ammunition, for their working is a matter of life and death of them. Lest, they die they won’t even be addressed as martyrs.
। तदोपरांत भी व्यवस्था में दबी हुई साम्राज्यवादी सोच के कीटाणु अपना दम तोड़ने को तैयार नहीं,जो उनका नहीं उसपर अधिकार छोड़ने को तैयार नहीं,तो मुझे भी आज यह कहते कोई संकोच नहीं कि इन् बलों की इस दशा, जिसमे निचले से निचले कार्मिकों के सामान्य जीवन संबंधी हालात हो या फिर परिचालन में उठाये गए नुकसान के कारण बल के कार्मिकों की हतास मनोदशा हो,इनके लिए यह वरिष्ठ पदों पर पदस्थ हमारे नर के रूप में व्यवस्था में नारायण बने अवतारों को मुख्य ज़िम्मेदारी लेनी चाहिए और इनकी जिम्मेदारी है।
सिर्फ इतना भी होता तो शायद कम होता परंतु यह भी विसंगति जन्म दी गयी कि जिन लोगों व संस्थाओं की नकारेपन व असफलता पर इन्हें बुलाया गया वे ही राज्य में तैनाती के दौरान इनके करता-धर्ता व मार्गदर्शक की भूमिका में रहेंगे। इससे और ज्यादा हास्यस्पद और कुछ नहीं हो सकता था। एक और महान उपलब्धि यह है कि इन् बलों का चरित्र विषुद्ध तरीके से सशस्त्र होने के बावजूद इनमे उच्चपदों पर आयातित भारतीय पुलिस सेवा के अधिकारियों को पदस्थ किया गया जोकि इन् बलों व राज्य पुलिस में बेहतर सामंजस्य रखने के नाम पर इन् बलों में प्रतिनियुक्तियों पर आते रहे। इस योजना का लाभ यह हुआ कि सालों अपने राज्य पुलिस के कार्यकाल में जरूरत से कहीं उत्कृष्ट सेवाएं जिसका प्रत्यक्ष उदाहरण हमारी पुलिस व्यवस्था है देने के उपरांत ये विशिष्ट वर्ग के अधिकारीगण इन बलों में थकान मिटाने व विशेष सेवाएं देने आते रहे जिसका मुख्य फायदा यह हुआ कि समय भी अच्छा गुज़रा और कोई खास जिम्मेदारी भी नहीं लेनी पड़ी। बड़ी से बड़ी घटना में भी ये अफसर “एस0ओ0पी0 का उल्लंघन बताकर” क्षणभर में समस्या को खत्म कर देने की योग्यता रखते हैं। यहाँ इन बातों को इंगित करने का ध्येय ये बताना बिल्कुल नहीं है की पूर्व के किसी प्रतिनियुक्ति पर अधिकार ने कुछ नहीं किया अपितु यह जरूर है कि वह इन बलों की नब्ज़ को छूने में असफल रहे हैं।
केंद्रीय सुरक्षा बल या फिर केंद्रीय सशस्त्र पुलिस बल जिनको अर्धसैनिक बल भी कहा जाता है भारतीय लोकतंत्र की नींव में लगे वो अभिन्न निष्ठा के पत्थर है जिनका लोहा खुद लौह पुरुष सरदार वल्लभ भाई पटेल सरीखे इस देश की कई महान हस्तियां मान चुकी हैं। परंतु अपने राष्ट्र और लोगों के प्रति अपार निष्ठा व कर्तव्यपथ की बलिवेदी पर हंस कर जान न्यौछावर करने वाले इन बलों को आज भी दोयम दर्जे का व्यवहार झेलना पड़ रहा है। विभिन्न नेता,मंत्री व चर्चित लोग इन बलों की चर्चा समय समय पर करते हैं और फिर कहीं अपनी अतिव्यस्त ज़िन्दगी में खो जाते हैं। सामान्य जन आज़ाद भारत के 70 साल से ज्यादा वक्त बीतने के बाद भी इन्हें भारतीय सेना या फिर न्याय व कानून व्यस्था की ड्यूटियों में सम्मिलित होने के कारण पुलिस मानते हैं। यह तथ्य आज तक भी उजागर नहीं हो पाया कि इन् बलों को पुलिस के कानून व न्याय व्यवस्था को लागू करने में असमर्थ या नाकाम होने की हालत में बुलाया जाता है। इससे भी अचंभित करने वाली बात पाठकों को यह लग सकती है कि इन बलों को केंद्र के अतिरिक्त सशस्त्र बलों की संज्ञा दी गयी है जिसका रहस्योद्घाटन आर0टी0आई0 के माध्यम से भी किया जा सकता है। साथ ही सुरक्षा बलों के विशेष अधिकार अधिनियम (AFSPA)के अनुभाग-2(क) के तहत इन बलों को केंद्र के अतिरिक्त सशस्त्र बल मानते हुए ये विशेष अधिकार दिए गए जिनमें जम्मू-कश्मीर व पूर्वोत्तर के कई राज्य शामिल हैं। पंजाब का आतंकवाद हो,कश्मीर की 1990 से अशांत वादियां हो,पूर्वोत्तर के सभी राज्यों का विद्रोह हो या फिर माओवाद और नक्सलवाद का खूनी संघर्ष हो,भारत-पाकिस्तान की रक्तरंजीत सीमा ,भारत-बांग्लादेश,भारत-तिब्बत(चीन),भारत-नेपाल व भारत-भूटान की सीमा या फिर भारत-म्यांमार सीमा की रखवाली करने का पूर्णरूपेण ज़िम्मा इन अर्धसैनिक बलों का है। अब भले ही आप इन्हें सी0आर0पी0एफ0,बी0एस0एफ0,आई0टी0बी0पी0,एस0एस0बी0,सी0आई0एस0एफ0 या किसी और नाम से जानते हों या फिर नहीं। कुम्भ मेला,अमरनाथजी यात्रा या फिर लोकतंत्र का महोत्सव जो आम चुनाव के माध्यम से यह विशाल देश मनाता आया है,बिना इन सुरक्षा बलों के अभूतपूर्व योगदान के इतिहास में सफलता के प्रतिमान के तौर पर दर्ज नहीं हो पाते। भारत के विभिन्न विशेष महत्व के स्थान एयरपोर्ट,रेलवे यातायात,परमाणु संयंत्र,अंतरिक्ष संयंत्र,रिफाइनरीज़ व अन्य महत्वपूर्ण स्थान इनकी सुरक्षा में हैं। इतने पर भी बात रुकती तो ठीक था ये बल बाढ़,सूखा, भूकंप,इत्यादि किसी भी प्राकृतिक आपदा के समय आपको टी0वी0 स्क्रीन पर सर पर,कंधों पर आम जनता को लादे मिल जाएंगे। यहां तक भी होता तो ठीक,कानून और न्याय व्यवस्था की धज़्ज़ियाँ उड़ती ही जा रही है और इन बलों को आये दिन जानवरों की भांति कभी गाड़ियों में तो कभी रेल की बोगियों में भरकर यहां से वहां फेंका जा रहा है। बलों का हाल इस प्रकार बयान किया जा सकता है कि साल में ढाई महीने की सरकारी देय छुट्टी भी उपभोग करने का समय नहीं है उल्टे गर्दन तक ज़िम्मेदारी का बोझ लादे ये कार्मिक भारतवर्ष के हर कोने में भटक रहे हैं। इन कार्मिकों से सहानुभूति कम और खिलवाड़ ज्यादा किया गया है। 6 दसक बीत जाने के बाद भी इन बलों को सामान्य सुविधाओं व पहचान के अभाव से गुजरना पड़ रहा है। वह भी तब जब आज इन बलों को कभी सी0बी0आई0 कि रेड में सहयोग के लिए याद किया जाता है तो कभी डरी हुई व अपराध में संलिप्त अपराधी या बाहुबली के साथ खड़ी पुलिस व्यवस्था पीड़ित को सुरक्षा देने में असमर्थ साबित होती है। आश्चर्य यह भी है कि अपनी सड़ी-गली पुलिस व्यवस्था जो कि हिंदुस्तानियों का खून चूसने व अपना साम्राज्य अनंतकाल तक बनाये रखने की मंसा से अंग्रेजों ने शुरू की उसे आजतक पुनः सृजित क्यों नहीं किया गया अपितु उनके भ्रस्टाचार व नाकाबिलियत को प्रमाणपत्र देकर इन अर्धसैनिक बलों को उनके भी कामों का ज़िम्मा सौंप दिया गया।
Well. It’s true that capf work in Naxal effected and terrorist effected areas. What are their successes. Did they ever clear any problem.. Naxals are cleared from Andhra by Grey hounds elite force of state police, in Orissa curtailed by their state police, most successes in Chattisgarh by DRG – state police and in Maharashtra by C60 – state police. We always hear about losses from capf, Such a poor leadership. Capf are posted to assist states where ever necessary. Law and order is state subject. If capf are not headed by IPS , how can they co-ordinate in dealing in state. Capf deployment is not like army deployment. When posted in states, they should work under and in coordination with police heads who are IPS.
What an argument Mr. Pandey.
Who were bosses of operations when there were losses in ops area. Hope its known or specific details may be sought.
What if men are ordered to go out without adequate preparation n inviting fatal results n then who to blame.
Well if CAPF is so inefficient, let bosses not call for their assistance n not show reluctance releasing them.
One question please: Why states don’t make full use of efficient officers. Many examples when efficiency won over n they were called back to states but only countable on fingers.
Oh yes, it will be ideal if officers come at initial ranks, understand d forces n become responsible shoulder to shoulder both for credits n defaults instead of at creamy layers only.
Let CAPF get their legitimate dues without fuss any more. It’s now over due n hope govt. n bosses see reality n avoid undue discredit.
Hahaha just want to say your thoughts should rest in peace…. CRPF has been in core naxal areas when your so called spl forces were learning abcd of operations. Moreover just go to the history of c60 and grey hounds you will come to know how and who trained them. However I have great respect for all those soldiers who are fighting this menace on the ground.
Secondly success and achievements of CRPF are not dependent on anyone’s recognition when every year it gets more gallantry and other higher medals for their valour .
Poor logic and knowledge both are at work in your mind Mr. Pandey..
If IPS are so capable and state police so well trained and self sufficient then why at the first place do they need CAPFs and moreover why do they fail to generate credible intelligence and act before any law & order problem surfaces.
The reality is that now the civil police under so called able IPS leaders are not at all trusted by common people because of sheer political influence on them .
(Kolkata example is a recent one and there are N number of more such ).
So atleast first put your house in order first before speaking false against others.
L&O is a state subject,under the domain of the elite cadre IPS. If this was efficiently handled there was no necessity of CAPF. Unfortunately,the exponential growth of CAPF especially CRPF speak volumes on the failure of this elite class on their state subject. Over the years.not only LnO,but other primary duties viz.investigation,intelligence, traffic managements etc have visibly deteriorated,hence increased demand of CBI etc .
Grey Hound did very well, but the application was limited ,and after effects were seen in neighboring states.If grey hound were so successful, there was no need of CAPF. Grey hound rather helped the naxalism to sprad over of overflow in to other safe heavens.
Failures attributed to CAPF are primarily due to lack of intelligence,continuous overstretched deployments and not providing necessary input s/wherewithal.Here too the Forces are commanded at the top by the IPS,so why not the blame should go to them.Weaker leaderships an excuse put forth to prevent CAPF officers from getting their dues. IPS officers come at the top rung ,mostly ill trained, ill informed about man management and ground discipline of the Force. As a matter of fact , IPS officers should be inducted at Asst. Comdt level in CAPF on deputation if they aspire to rise to Top.in CAPF.
If Cadre like Indian Railway services can manage their subject so efficiently without this elite IPS,why can’t CAPF manage their own Force and cadre.Give them chance to prove their mettle or let them fail and then judge them.
IPS officer ‘s requirement at the top to head the Force just to co-ordinate with state is a lame excuse.In any case this job is handled by CAPF officers working in Staff always.There is no rocket science which IPS officers employ to create magic at the top. In fact no IPS officer has led the men on ground operations so far. Generally ,they come into picture only when the gallantry medal is the issue.
Time has changed, lot of water has flown under the bridge, Change is inevitable.After a long time The Highest Court has recognized their due.-OAGS.
The political leadership is expected to not fall prey to IPS influence and implement the NFFU in letter and spirit with all ingredients of revised RR.
I have not written this with intention of casting aspersion on any cadre especially IPS ,because there are exceptionally efficient and honest officers ,Ihave come across in working life., Since the issue is raised by Mr Pandey, to show the CAPF in a very bad light and derogatory manner, am compelled to write.
It hasn’t been the case if Central Armed Forces to seek pay parity with any particular service. Their submission before the hon’ble HC of Delhi was to implementation of OGAS status granted by Sixth pay commission at par with other OGAS of the Central Govt with all its attributes, which was granted by the hon’ble HC and maintained by the hon’ble SC in their order dated 5 Feb 2019. The same is under implementation during twice extended time owing to the volume of work involved. Shortfall in implementation, if any, would be got redressed by the courts’ intervention again.
Does this campaign reveal that deep down the aspirations of the outstanding India believes he or she is God’s gift to the country and deserves an appropriate status supported by all, including the starving? Businessmen and politicians anyway achieve that status by literally bending the rules if they cannot change them. Savvy politicians bend the career bureaucrats who interpret the rules
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Is it not अन्धा बाटे रेवड़ी अपने अपने को देय .।।।।। Crux of stepmotherly treatment or called it a back stabing. …।।
It is the naked reality of Current regime at center which plays nationalism card for its own political interest but backs away whenever it has to walk the talk. This backstabbing by the government would break the CAPFs moral and could further jeopardize the order in country.
Yes I think they have been again let down by the Government they are the ones who fight Naxals in Odisha Andhra Border many a times they have fought against terrorists who waged war against the State , I think they have to be given their due on par with IPS.
Is this surgical strike in suspense of PM on CAPF ? And this time on whose advice ? PM must take Internal Security advisor from CAPF so that he can vouch for the interest of CAPF.
Only CAPF can ensure fair elections and to recognize their hard and honest work, political will must not be moved against interst of CAPF.
What is the purpose of this kind of demand for payment increase as country is facing economic slowdown and grave concern like unemployment rate in several sectors. This high profile officers never realised that they are only interested in selfish of unfamiliar demands in which does not have any financial benefits to look into lower level staff who are actually facing most of the counter insurjics where maximum number of casualties were while faced with the anti-national elements within the country.
Mr. Kandasamy you would never ever know the purpose as you might not have ever faced what the capf officers face on the ground when posted in remotest areas of the country. If you raise a baby since it’s birth and when it grows up you find it is snatched from you saying you are not capable of handling it anymore then what kind of Justice is this.
Secondly these demands are not at all unfamiliar as CAPFs have been familiar of this grave injustice since past 30+ years.
Thirdly you should do some homework properly before writing as it is the capf cadre officers who fight for the rights of the jawans and work with them on field with real camaraderie . Cadre officers are not parachuted from States which don’t have any idea of ground realities of CAPFs issues .
Well Mr. Kandasamy,
Sorry I dont know abt ur background but definitely u r far from reality. U r also trying to twist d core issue by giving a tangent.
Shd u have knowledge abt functioning of CAPFs, u would not comment this way.
Well gone r days when king was supreme ala IPS.
When they faced stagnation (so called n far from reality of course) they demanded more than one post of DG, no RRs were reqd. Or even if revised why?
Then they got posts of special DGs and ADGs, but that did not count for burden on economy?
My dear, u will do wise if u comment after studying CAPFs working conditions vis a vis IPS unless u r blindly persuing ur objective.
I m surprised, Why Apex court directions r being crippled at behest of an unauthorised body.
Perhaps govt. too is not able to see brewing problem among all time loyalists.@ pmo, hm, mha