New Delhi: Explaining the deputation of more than 40 Indian Police Service (IPS) officers across five paramilitary forces since May 2025, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan informed the Supreme Court that its order directing progressive reduction in the number of such officers was not a prohibition against such a move and that these appointments were within an established framework.
On Monday, the home secretary also said that the deputations were made only based on requisitions from the chiefs of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), such as the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Border Security Force (BSF), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).
Mohan made these submissions in an affidavit filed on directions from the Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and Atul S. Chandurkar, on the last day of hearing in a contempt petition filed against the government’s move to bring in legislation that formalises deputation of IPS officers into the CAPFs.
The petition was filed by several serving and retired cadre officers of the paramilitary forces.
To Mohan’s earlier submission that 46 officers have been brought on deputation into the CAPFs since the court order of 23 May last year, the apex court had sought an explanation from him on the last day of hearing.
The Supreme Court had passed the order directing a gradual reduction in the number of IPS officers on deputation within two years. The Centre later filed a review petition, which the apex court dismissed in October last year. This year, the government enacted the CAPF (General Administration) Act despite protests and criticism.
In his affidavit, Mohan reiterated that the Supreme Court had directed the reduction of IPS officers on deputation within two years, but said that the order did not explicitly state that deputation should be abolished completely.
“It is respectfully submitted that there is, however, no direction issued by this Hon’ble Court directing that the deputation of IPS officers to the various CAPFs be discontinued altogether. The direction of this Hon’ble Court is for a progressive reduction in the number of posts earmarked for deputation and does not amount to a prohibition against the appointment of IPS officers on deputation to the CAPFs,” Mohan told the court.
Such appointments, therefore, operates within the framework of the applicable statutory rules and policy, he added.
“It is respectfully submitted that the aforesaid deputations have been made in conformity with the applicable statutory and regulatory framework governing such appointment,” he told the court. “It is further submitted that after the passing of the judgment dated 23.05.2025, appointments have been carried out based on requisitions received by the various CAPFs through the concerned director general, as per the vacancies against the quota specified under the respective recruitment rules.”
He informed the top court that the Central government has extended the benefits of the Non-Functional Financial Upgradation to address stagnation and balance the career aspirations of officers across various CAPFs as per its direction in the same order. However, he reiterated his earlier request for more time to comply with all the guidelines and directions passed by the court in its judgment.
On the issue of cadre restructuring, Mohan submitted that all CAPFs have initiated the cadre review process and submitted their proposals to the Ministry of Home Affairs. “The said exercise is presently being undertaken in accordance with the applicable statutory and regulatory framework and having regard to the directions contained in the judgment dated 23.05.2025,” he said in the affidavit.
“That it is submitted that each of the respective CAPFs has undertaken the exercise of preparation of its cadre review proposal after providing an opportunity to representatives and officers from the field units to furnish their views, suggestions and inputs. The exercise has thus been undertaken with a view to ensuring that the cadre review proposals are holistic in nature and take into account the functional and operational requirements of the respective CAPFs, based upon wide participation of the relevant stakeholders.”
(Edited by Nardeep Singh Dahiya)