New Delhi: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has asked all six Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) to conduct a comprehensive review of their Group A cadre officers and to submit detailed review proposals within a month.
These proposals would be further examined in accordance with the prescribed guidelines, an MHA order issued Friday said.
With a comprehensive cadre review originally due since 2021, the process will focus on officers from the rank of Assistant Commandant to Inspector General. One of the results of this review, according to the Supreme Court in its order in May, will be progressive lessening of IPS deputation in the CAPFs within two years.
A copy of the order was marked to the chief of the six CAPFs—Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and the Assam Rifles.
“All Central Armed Police Forces are requested to undertake a comprehensive review of their existing Group ‘A’ cadres and submit detailed cadre review proposals to this Ministry,” the government order said. “The proposals may be furnished, in accordance with the prescribed guidelines, within one month for further examination.”
A CAPF officer called the MHA’s directive and time-bound requirement of cadre review proposals a long-overdue move. “This is a long-overdue cadre review exercise that can address the issues of structural imbalances and stagnation in the forces. The exercise will enhance officers’ promotional avenues, command hierarchy, and long-term career progression,” the officer said.
“Under this exercise, data on Group A officers along with relevant details would be compiled, along with proposals on how to improve the situation of stagnation at a particular post in CAPFs would be submitted to the ministry.”
The development comes just a couple of months after the Supreme Court junked the appeal of the Centre against its judgment, declaring the status of the Group A officers of the CAPF as ‘Organised Group A Service’ (OGAS).
In May, the apex court directed a cadre review within six months and a phased reduction in the deputation of officers from the Indian Police Service up to the rank of Inspector General in the CAPFs.
Though the Centre had filed a petition, the top court in October refused to review its earlier order directing the government to reduce the number of Indian Police Service (IPS) officers serving on deputation in the CAPFs.
Officers highlighted that a proper and periodic review of the cadre would reduce stagnation and the time to promotion by half, as the number of posts available for promotion would increase while the number of positions available for deputation declined in a phased, gradual manner.
For example, they said, the first cadre review would create positions at the level of Deputy Inspector General and Inspector General, thereby expanding promotion opportunities for officers who have been serving at one post for more than a decade.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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