The year 2019 was significant for India’s internal security for two reasons. First, the security forces faced unprecedented challenges in Kashmir and in the northeast due to various threats as well as some policy measures of the Narendra Modi government. Second, and rather unfortunately, a section of the Central Armed Police Forces was engaged in an acrimonious campaign to oust their IPS leadership.
The border guarding forces and the armed police maintained by the central government have grown rapidly since the 1960s owing to disputes with China and Pakistan, growing internal security challenges like militancy in Punjab and Kashmir, and the rise of Left-wing extremism (LWE).
The Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) were raised and nurtured by the Indian Police Service (IPS) officers. But over time, states began to show reluctance in sparing young IPS officers. Besides, state police forces too have undergone expansion with the creation of new districts. This led to a shortfall of IPS leadership in the CAPF. In response, successive governments expanded the recruitment of cadre officers in the CAPF. So far, the policy consensus had been that the CAPF officer cadre will play a supporting role to the IPS officers who will provide strategic leadership. That consensus is now being challenged.
Also read: Armed police forces to become service like IAS & IPS, officers to be recruited via UPSC
Cracks in apparatus
Matters have come to a head, especially in the past one year, due to two separate developments.
First is the issue of salaries. The Sixth Pay Commission accorded all Organised Group A Service (OGAS) with Non-Functional Financial Upgrade (NFFU), that is, a rise in pay irrespective of vacancies in the next promotional pay scale. The Supreme Court in February 2019 accorded OGAS status to six CAPFs. The CAPF cadre officers want the OGAS to be implemented in full in order to completely end the IPS deputation and have approached the Delhi HC.
Essentially, they want the courts to rule on the wider issue of how the government designs strategic command of CAPF organisations — and, in the process, fundamentally alter the character of the Indian Police Service as an All India Service (AIS). There is nothing eternal or sacrosanct about the design of the All India Services and their role in governance. What is curious is that far-reaching policy changes are being sought not through informed debate, but through an extremely well-funded legal challenge and a vitriolic social media campaign.
The second development is the increasing use of social media through anonymous accounts by some CAPF cadre officers to criticise the Modi government and the IPS leadership. The entire atmosphere has turned toxic with not-so-subtle hints at disaffection. Many other interest groups have joined the chorus either with their own agenda or because they have an axe to grind against the IPS. Despite criticism, the IPS fraternity continues to carry a great degree of public trust.
Also read: Modi govt plan to merge CAPF, IPS recruitment exams could end animosity between them
The merit debate
As things stand today, the CAPF officer cadre wants the perks and privileges of both the armed forces and All India Services. The CAPF entry exam, though conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), doesn’t have either the physical or the psychological rigor of the Services Selection Board (SSB) for the armed forces, nor the intellectual heft of the civil services exam. While CAPF cadres love to deride the AIS as one-exam wonders, the fact remains that most of them attempted and failed to qualify. Entry-level caliber is not the primary issue in determining the place of the CAPF officer cadre in our internal security system anyway. Most police organisations are hybrid outfits with multiple entry levels. Many cite the tactical abilities and the bravery displayed by CAPF cadre officers as sufficient proof of their capability to head these organisations. Parallels from the armed forces are drawn to strengthen this argument.
First, even in the armed forces, tactical prowess and bravery are not the overriding considerations in selecting officers for strategic leadership positions. Second, the CAPF officer cadre does not face a steep pyramid like the armed forces, where the vast majority of officers fail to make it past the Lt Col (second-in command) rank in the CAPFs. Third, they do not face early retirement at different ranks beyond colonel level like in the armed forces.
There are larger issues of size, cost, and overall efficiency when deciding the CAPF’s place in India’s internal security architecture. The government spent about Rs 60,000 crore on more than 10 lakh CAPF personnel in 2018-19 and around Rs 1,30,000 crore on 25 lakh personnel in state police forces. The best guarantee of internal security is a well-resourced police force that enjoys public trust and confidence, and not merely heavily armed boots on the ground. To strengthen the state police forces, the government could convert many CAPF battalions into India Reserve Battalions (IRB), and allow some of the border guarding CAPF component to come under the strategic leadership of army generals even in peacetime, like the Assam Rifles.
Recently, a retired IPS officer, N.C. Asthana, argued that there was no justification for continued IPS leadership of CAPFs. Asthana confuses tactics and strategy to claim that IPS officers have been found wanting as leaders. The experience of armed forces around the world suggests that tactical brilliance is neither a necessary nor a sufficient condition for strategic leadership. This is why senior commanders undertake Strategic Leadership Courses in India and abroad to equip them to understand the role of the organisation they head in a rapidly changing world.
Also read: Modi govt has a new headache — social media campaigns by unhappy IAS, Railways officers
CAPF reforms
Recently, it has been reported that a committee has recommended to the UPSC that the CAPF recruitment should be brought under the ambit of the civil services exam. Given the statutory changes it will require, it is a long way from being implemented. While this may or may not satisfy those disgruntled among the CAPF cadre, it has to be carefully thought through.
Recently, the Modi government decided to merge a number of railway services into one service. So, will the CAPF cadre recruitment be merged into the overall IPS recruitment, or will they be recruited as a combined CAPF service? More importantly, will recruiting them through the civil services examination mean that they too will be brought under the Right to Information (RTI) and subject to civilian legal processes? Currently, these organisations are exempt from the RTI and their personnel is subject to a military-style in-house legal system, even when they commit criminal offences against civilians in peacetime areas. Clearly, the CAPF officer cadres cannot claim the status of civil services and expect to hold on to military-style privileges.
If we analyse the use of the CAPFs, clearly, a substantial chunk of their manpower and resources are used to support state police in various routine and extraordinary internal security challenges. If we are to continue doing so, and convert their officer cadres into civil services, then their military-style regimentation and immunities will have to undergo some changes. Or else we face a scenario where the CAPFs are primarily used for sequestering our elite.
Any change in the police organisation must address the critical gap between India’s capacity to secure the powerful and serve the common citizen. It’s mostly the police stations that need personnel but that is where there is the maximum resource gap. Also, policing is best done within a strictly legal framework, subject to law and limited by law. If the CAPF cadre genuinely aspires to be treated as civil services, a lot of work will be required to reorient the forces towards a more citizen-centric ethos.
The military and police leadership in India have distinguished themselves with their professionalism, broad acceptability in society as well from the elected leaders. And they have never allowed India’s constitutional system to be imperiled. What the CAPF cadres are demanding has huge national security implications and for the contours of our civil-military equations.
There is, of course, the larger issue of distribution of power between the state and the central government, and of democracy itself. Should the central police forces be more militarised or should they be made more accountable to citizens, the law and elected representatives? This is the most important question that must guide the debate. The leadership role given to each cadre should follow from that. Anything else would amount to placing the cart before the horse.
Sudhanshu Sarangi is Commissioner of Police, Bhubhaneshwar. Abhinav Kumar is Inspector General, Uttarakhand Police. Views are personal.
question
as per his logic only IPS has citizen centric values which are well developed. but the question arises how is it possible?????
answer
abhinav’s version—-abhinav kumar sir is a reincarnation of abhimanyu (arjuna’s son). he had learnt these qualities when he was in womb a long ago. simlarly he thinks that other IPS had these qualities inborn and no other person can acqire these citizen centric values.
logical version—– training and practicing these values on ground
give other personnels same training as IPS officers and you will see the results.
however even without training the track record of CAPFs is much better than police personnels led by so called “citizen centric IPS officers”.
the article is mockery of the plight of common man’s grievances who are afraid of police. justifying your sick thoughts shows your colonial mindset .
OH JESEUS , PLEASE SAVE US FROM SUCH SHITTY ARTICLES COMPOSED BY SICK BRAINS.
अगर किसी से भी पूछा जाए कि कौन सा सिस्टम सबसे असफल, भ्रस्ट और अक्षम है आज की तारीख में …तो वह है पुलिस बल । जिसके जिम्मेदार है भारतीय पुलिस सेवा के लोग जिन्हें पुलिस को लीड की जिम्मेदारी दी गयी थी पर तो सिर्फ लीद किये …अपने भरस्टाचार में सबको सम्मिलित कर लिए …केंद्रीय पुलिस बल को नाकाम पुलिस के कारण ही हर परिस्थित में राज्य को बुलाना पड़ता है जिसे कम्पनी कमांडर स्तर के ही अधिकारी होते है
Egoistic IPS and Egoistic CAPF officers who fight eachother with comman man’s tax money.
Gone are those days and those nurturing … We are capable in every aspects to lead and the country knows about its IPS(imperial police service). The tag no more works. For the sake of your promotional as well as posting benefits CAPF can’t suffer more. Asthana sir is a jewel and he stands tall among these greedy IPS. You have lost your leadership and respect in the eyes of CAPF. We are going to give you a tough competition, we are also UPSC entrants.
भाई प्रिंट के मुखिया जी कम से कम किसी के बेतुके शब्दों और अज्ञानता को दर्शाने के लिए अपने प्लेटफॉर्म का मिसयूज तो मत होने दीजिए,ये खबर अन्य पॉलिटिकल खबरों की तरह मनगढ़ंत और आधारहीन और किसी सारंगी और वैभव की भाषा है ही नहीं…सारंगी बाबू से ये तो पूछ ही लेते की आज भी अपनी घर की किसी महिला को थाने भेजने में सही काम के लिए आप कॉन्फिडेंट क्यों नहीं हैं,इससे प्रोफेशनलिज्म और नागरिकों के प्रति पुलिस के भाव को बड़े आराम से समझ जाएंगे ,भाई देश सभी का है,ऐसा नहीं है कि आप एग्जाम पास कर लिए तो विद्वान होने के सर्टिफिकेट घूम रहे और बाक़ी को बेवकूफ समझ रहे ऐसा होता तो ………………पुलिस होने की क्या इमेज बची है ,खराब नहीं कहूंगा लेकिन दूसरे आपसे खराब है भी नहीं।भाई CAPF को छोड़ दो वो अपना काम करना जानती है और arogancy के इस जाल से बाहर निकलो, खुद 56 भोग खाओ जिसके हकदार नहीं और दूसरा अपनी दाल रोटी खा रहा तो तकलीफ किस बात की। जिस Ashthana जी का नाम लिया जा रहा वो भी IPS hi hai उन्होंने अगर कुछ अपने अनुभव से कहा है तो एतने चिढ़ने की जरूरत नहीं है ।भारत माता की जय।
There are other All India Services too. These type of issues are not felt much there. One must introspect- why at all CAPF officers went to court?-my understanding is that the approach of IPS officers towards the CAPF cadre officers is the main reason. Their genuine career aspirations have been systematically curtailed, instead of motivating them by opening more avenues. Where as benefit of all the developments in CAPF is reaped by IPS , as they hold the top positions.
An All India Service officer comes to centre at higher positions, mostly in the policy formulation of the ministry/departments / statutory bodies/boards/ organisations etc, not at field level. Here IPS comes to CAPF on deputation at IG level which is purely a field level position in CAPF. In State police IG level might be of policy making position.
The mere fact that some officers of the CAPF cadre officers went to court for their career right is the clear testimony that IPS officers failed in running the organisations smoothly. Fighting with managed group and treating then as their enemy, leads IPS to any other inferior cadres. They should learn how other AIS cadres manage other cadres.
1) Equating the grave law and order situations in the country and the demands of capf to be treated fairly is to absolutely lost all sense of proportion. One tends to mistake ones cadre interest as the supreme national interest.
2) The capf officers condition has become so pathetic that despite being in the fore front of all the law and order situations and facing the enemy in the border, they have lost their old pension, missed OROP, missed military/paramilitary pay granted for hardship faced, and missed pb iv in 11 years granted to other group A services as well as the army.
3) Even within their own organization, those officers in the medical or veterinary streams who are supposed to assist the GD officers in the performance of their duty superseded them. They picked up rank of CO within 13 years whereas the GD officers gets stuck at junior ranks. Imagine the embarassment of having to salute those more than 10 years your junior.
4) It’s not about being ambitious but asking for justice and fair play. They have pleaded for atleast some assemblance of parity which have been outrightly rejected. Hence , they were compelled to go to the court, and the HC, SC and now the GOI have found their demand fair and just and take decision to implement it.
5) It is sad that it has not been implemented as it was done to other 52 other OGAS. I appeal to their sense of justice and fairness to implement as it ought to be.
There is no shame in saluting doctors .they deserve it,both educationally and professionally . Stop the war in your organisation , and ten expect to move ahead above.
Let’s be simple. Who is more citizen centric- capfs or state police? Let’s ask any common man who knows both state police and capf to go to either of them for help and he would straight away go to the capf personal. We all know police in India are highly indisciplined, incompetent and corrupt and quite often take the law for granted. On the other hand, CAPFs are highly disciplined, well trained, sincere and law abiding. Just an example- CISF has been asked to replace Delhi police in different sectors of security in Delhi including the recent observation by the CJI of the SC to hand over the security of court premises to CISF from Delhi police and that of Srinagar and Jammu airport. The CAPF personals, even though ill equipped with lesser facilities, are the backbone of internal security for a long time now. The discrepancies,if any arise out of the incompetence of the IPS officers who come to command these forces at the top without basic working knowledge of the organisation itself. For many IPS officers, deputation to CAPFs is just like vacation. The IPS officers are now only lobbying for their supremacy without legitimacy without responsibility.
A grand story of failure of hegemonic desire perpetrated with evil design of slavery drawing cue from whiteman supremacy. The Honorable Courts have punctured the balloon of supremacy with the fundamental principals of Constitution of India. Bravo! young officer you have given them jolt of their life.
I never thought that “the print” will allow people to use it’s space for personal vendetta. Btw aren’t you the guy who’s extension in BSF was questioned by Honable court and who is famous for spitting venom on Twitter… Stop using your doon connections, we know you were born with a silver soon and now you are acting like “marie antoinette”. As far as refuting your shoddy arguments is concerned, people have already done a much better job then this article. So my piece of advice is it’s time for you to see yourself in the mirror and wake up to the realities.
Print ki dum dabayi hai ips logo ne …..Kyuki print brand ho gayi hai anti national . Thats why they are trying to please egoist ips officers
It is a completely venomous version towards the other services as hegemony of IPS is shedding away slowly but surely. The courts know that how IPS hegemony has destroyed the state police beyond repairs and now they our to destroy the structure of CAPF with their whims and fancies. The have always despised the State services police officers who had been the core strength of state policing by their hegemony.It disgusting to find that in one year at NPA they become the best leaders of police services and rest at the best can be followers despite scarificing their whole life to save the nation’s. There has been very rare IPS officer who given scarificed in actionor earned highest bravery while serving in CAPF. The force has borne great losses in field due to leadership failure at highest level. They have been treated as cannon fodder of the police failures be it Chattisgsrh, Jharkhand, Orissa, U Pradesh etc to name a few. They have always treated CAPF to comfort for after service benefits and save bruised ego in their cadre state where they have little choice in front of political bosses. In state they have only two key places of SP of a district and DGP of state to reckon with. In state the senior officers are adjusted in very non descript post like ADG computers etc to create avenues of promotion whereas in CAPF each post has its historic relevance with a operational and administrative value like in Army.They have destroyed the CAPF by their weird ideas of leadership experimenting the failed ideas of states. It is shame on such people who have made sham of policing system and now putting blame on others to prove their worth. They had been just a manager in Khakhi uniform. We need real fighter and hero in CAPF who set standards in the line of action to save the country from further delusion . CAPF cadre officer’s have lead their from front right from being coy commander and earned highest honors and decorations of country. Our fathers and friends fathers have put long periods of their lives at risk to earn position and given in silver spoon. This article has been an attempt to recreate an Aura of invincibility to create a charade. Many Cadres have taken over their responsibility without any hassle but IPS officers are at unease as they feel that golden geese is slipping out of their hands and the air of superiority is dissipating and at last leg of it hollowed journey. Good luck to IPS invincibility. Please try your hands in state policing and prove your worth to nation’s cause which will help in consolidating Indian Union what present govt had done in abrogating Art 370.
The article highlights the limits of use of CAPFs with expected efficiency and effectiveness in a democratic system. It’s indisputable that the CAPFs are primarily meant for use in aid of civil administration consisting mainly police and magistracy for public maintenance duties. They are strictly bound by law in the use of force only with the concurrence of the civil administration. Hence they are there in the districts on request with limited mandate of aiding the civil administration within the limits prescribed by the latter. This is so because use of force against the citizens should be avoided as much possible, and kept to the minimum if it becomes unavoidable. Now this sort of graded response to public order challenges is to be mastered through on field experience lest the citizens should become target of application of force disproportionate to the purpose sought to be achieved. After all ours is a democratic system that permits enough liberty for the legitimate expression of dissatisfaction with the acts of state entities.. While IPS officers, by virtue of their grounding in field policing on day on day basis, acquire necessary instincts and reflexes coupled with professional skills required therefor, the same is not true for the CAPF officers, who do not have similar exposure to public order management on day to day basis.. Therefore, it is not only operationally imperative but also very much desirable that the CAPFs are led by a judicious mix of officers from the IPS and CAPF cadres who can formulate a response to the public order challenges, when needed with the aid of CAPF, that remains strictly in consistence with the rights and values of citizens in a democratic society. Any conscious effort to disturb this time tested institutionalised arrangement, in my humble view, could spell disastrous situations between the law enforcement agencies and the citizens exercising their constitutionally guaranteed liberties to stage protests against the state for various acts of commission and omission of her entities and instrumentalities. It will also be noteworthy to mention all the aid to the states for the provision of CAPF is duly paid for by the states to the Union government. Hence, it is all the more imperative that the armed force of the union being deputed in aid of civil administration for the efficient and effective public order management is grounded in temper, skills and mental orientation strictly in alignment with the democratic values of our democratic system. And that to my view could be achieved most effectively only when the CAPFs are led by a judicious mix of officers drawn both from the CAPF and IPS cadres.
The writer certainly suffers from colonial mindset.
Had the IPS Leadership been effective in managing the State Police Forces to be effective tool of managing IS & LO, there would have been no need to expansion of CAPFs to deal with ever deteriorating IS situation in our Motherland.
Very correct ?Salute to u Sir……
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Primarily the article, if not contemptuous it is imperious, sneering and snide to the judiciary. This is the “civility” demonstrated by the writer to uphold the democratic fabric of the country. Ironically the authors represent IPS fraternity, the guardian of said civility.
Secondly the phenomenal growth of central forces reflects systemic failures under the leadership of such strategists who are said to be non replaceable. It has been conveniently attributed to hostile neighborhood only by the authors. It would be a relevant question to ask, if police could deliver; what was so compelling for MHA who had to outsource the responsibility to CRPF. If trust deficit of policing system amongst indian population is still not visible to strategists, they are either biased or blind to the fact. Bollywood has produced many films depicting the same.
The suggestion that only he can be a good strategist who has qualified AIS exam is as absurd as suggesting that only such animals can fly which can swim.
It has been derived that CRPF boots would tilt policing to militarisation. At the fist place why is it presumed that policing is going to get further paralyzed or police under the strategist leadership would never rise to the expectations. If the author is so confident of their capabilities, they should ensure that CAPF especially CRPF is not required any more and they could handle state affairs without assistance from MHA.
Authors appear to be ignorant of the fact that CAPF work under the same legal frame work and do not enjoy extra immunity if compared with any other police personnel. Notably all the legal powers under CrPC are heavily tilted towards SHO of civil police which are regularly abused thereby undermining constitutionally guarenteed rights to civillian population.
The article highlights the following major points.
1. CAPF does not have citizen centric values.
2. Civil millitary equations are not understood by judiciary.
3. Growth of Border forces and Internal security central forces is because of disputes with neighbouring countries.
4. It’s undisputed that strategic leadership can be provided by IPS officers only.
5. The courts do not have an understanding and jurisdiction over the wider issue of how the government designs strategic command. Far-reaching policy changes are being sought through un-informed debates and extremely well-funded legal challenge and a vitriolic social media campaign
6. IPS leadership and Modi Government are synonymous.
7. Qualifying exams for AIS guarentee apt strategic management capabilities and that can not be disputed.
8. State police enjoyed public trust and CAPF do not.
8. Tactical brilliance is not necessary for strategic leadership.
9. CAPF work ethos are beyond the constitutionally drawn legal system and civility.
All these aserrtions are playful, without any attempt to validate the same with facts and figures.
Primarily the article, if not contemptuous it is imperious, sneering and snide to the judiciary. This is the “civility” demonstrated by the writer to uphold the democratic fabric of the country. Ironically the authors represent IPS fraternity, the guardian of said civility.
Secondly the phenomenal growth of central forces reflects systemic failures under the leadership of such strategists who are said to be non replaceable. It has been conveniently attributed to hostile neighborhood only by the authors. It would be a relevant question to ask, if police could deliver; what was so compelling for MHA who had to outsource the responsibility to CRPF. If trust deficit of policing system amongst indian population is still not visible to strategists, they are either biased or blind to the fact. Bollywood has produced many films depicting the same.
The suggestion that only he can be a good strategist who has qualified AIS exam is as absurd as suggesting that only such animals can fly which can swim.
It has been derived that CRPF boots would tilt policing to militarisation. At the fist place why is it presumed that policing is going to get further paralyzed or police under the strategist leadership would never rise to the expectations. If the author is so confident of their capabilities, they should ensure that CAPF especially CRPF is not required any more and they could handle state affairs without assistance from MHA.
Authors appear to be ignorant of the fact that CAPF work under the same legal frame work and do not enjoy extra immunity if compared with any other police personnel. Notably all the legal powers under CrPC are heavily tilted towards SHO of civil police which are regularly abused thereby undermining constitutionally guarenteed rights to civillian population.
This the best article to showcase saga of one more failure of IPS leadership.When IPS have raised n nurtured these forces, why they have failed to nurture capf officers to the desired level if one goes by the analogy as propounded in the article.
Never seen people writing the story of their failure in such a glorified ways..Kudos.
The Indian police service was raised primarily to maintain law & order in the different states of the country which remains the primary task of the service. If one googles for all India conviction of crime rate, one will find it below 50%, meaning that out of every hundred crimes committed in the country less than fifty cases get conviction. Rest of the cases fail in the court of law for poor quality of investigation. This clearly shows that the attention of police officers is required at places other than CAPFs.
Army & police officers were taken on deputation & re-employment into the Central Armed Forces during their infancy when either the recruitment of the officers in these forces hadn’t yet begun or these officers hadn’t acquired enough seniority to hold higher responsibilities. But since these forces are now fifty to eighty years old, not only these forces have their large pool of officers with enough seniority & experience to hold the all field command & staff positions, including the head of these forces, such deputations & re-employments into these forces are long redundant.
With all due regards for the Indian police service officers for their academic merits, they lack the requisite exposure relevant to these forces. Neither these forces are looking for operational or administrative expertise from out side, which involves the working knowledge of all the Acts, rules & manuals of these forces, not even once chanced by Indian police officers in their entire career. Whereas the officers of CAPFs possess ample knowledge & practical experience of all the operational & administrative functions of these forces.
In this scenario it’s not undersgood why should Indian police officers be required in these forces on short deputation with no exposure of the operational or administrative functioning of these forces.
Now these forces have grown, matured, declared Orgsnised Group A Services by the apex court (which are closed cadres upto the level of IGP) and accumulated rich pool of officers to lead these forces in all theatres of operations and can manage them administratively. The intake of the Army officers has been discontinued longtime ago. It’s time for Indian police officers to overcome their unreasonable longing for CAPF deputations and oncentrate to improve the law & order statics of their patent states, instead. Their irrelevance to CAPFs has been elaborated by Sh NC Asthana IPS DG (Retd) in an article published recently in the Wire.
Need for reorientation of CAPF for citizen centric role – even now CAPF work with the citizens such RAF for riot control in communally sensitive areas, on large scale for election duties ,Cobra bns on LWE affected area etc, – if Army ‘s steep pyramid and early retirement are so desirable, let these for all services – All India character of IPS will not change , they will continue to come in IB,CBI,RAW,BPRD,NCRB etc, even CAPF it can be reciprocal basis ,CAPF officers can go to states and IPS to CAPF after due orientation, concept of IRB bns is still there but it can replace CAPFs, Border guarding can put under Army leadership as their specific role was recognised after Kargil and separate border guarding force was recommended ,CAPF officers can be put under any examination or SSB like Army but they should be given befitting status and emoluments which should not be the domain of only few after all whatever is the examination all those who qualify will join,IPS fraternity should rejoice CAPF officers being given this status and facilitate this change in the interest of national security
The article reveals the desperation after supreme court ruled in favour of capf cadre …the very assumption that paramilitary cadre officers would play supporting role is misleading, false and fallacious …supreme court did not accept this argument…parliamentary committee report on this issue has not accepted this argument…why the writers are hiding these things written in parliamentary committee report…
writers are using well words like “well funded legal challenge”. What does it mean? Are the judges of supreme court being bribed by paramilitary cadre? Is the writer indicating at it? Writers have not come clear on it…
About the merit debate…as per writers opinion, the UPSC civil exam is the sole criteria merit…And we are seeing condition of state police forces…conviction rate in criminal cases is less than 20%…let’s not talk more about it..everyone knows…
Writers are unnecessarily creating confusion in readers mind …everything is written in if and but…and that with false information and distorted arguments with selective use of facts…no attention has been paid to nuances…
It is nothing but fear of getting kicked out of CAPFs…why IPS are joining only in IG and above ranks…that too just enjoy plum postings…why IPS are not joining at entry level in capf…
Writers are advised to reveal whole facts…why the capf cadre had to go to supreme court..where IPS failed to justify their case…by logic of writers only IPS are competent because the cleared upsc civil service exam…by this logic all others are incompetent to do anything…Capf cadre has to undergo many courses which are mandatory for getting next promotion and are physically extremely difficult…
Insightful article.
Disaffection among CAPF officers is alarming. Many comments in reply to this article are clearly by disgruntled CAPF officers … shocking to see the insubordination, frustration and arrogance. It is surprising to see the lack of discipline. How does the government allow this mutinous behavior reach such proportions. Some comments reflect reluctance to submit to civil authority (E.g. to police officers in charge of police stations), and disgruntlement over such things as lack of accommodation and transport – sentiments which bode ill for democracy. I hope the court will direct the government to weed out these troublemakers and restore order.
There has been thoughtless proliferation and expansion of these CAPFs, reflecting dysfunction in our polity. Internal unrest as a result of politicians exploiting sectarian sentiments and failure of governance leading to left wing insurgencies has been met with excessive use of heavy-handed, military-style CAPFs. For border management alone, we have 3 CAPS (BSF, ITBP, SSB) where one would suffice; for internal security duties we have 2 (CRPF, RAF) where we ought to have one; and so on. It is dangerous for a democracy to have a million plus men under arms just to enforce order within our borders, demanding greater privileges. The BSF, ITPB AND SSB ought to be combined and placed under the command of the army corps in border areas; and the CRPF and RAF combined, reduced in numbers and partly absorbed into the state reserve police forces.
I wish the authors had done homework rather than imposing arm chair theory of supremacy of IPS. They seem to have conveniently ignored the pronouncements of High Court and Supreme Court. Being a serving officer their contradiction of Cabinet decision arising out of judicial order is also bereft of any logic. If these arguments are so valid they should have been raised before apex court and Government of India. My best wishes to authors for a better article next time on how to improve participation and efficiency of IPS officers.
Has the British Colonial Rule ended for CAPFs in India ?**
_(Analogy from the book “The Inglorious Empire” by Shashi Tharoor)_
The Bengal famine was a dark phase in the history of India ,Winston Churchill infamously quoted *” _Indians are animals and they deserve to die.”_* Well how can you expect someone like Churchill ,a white skinned racist to sympathize with brown skinned Indians. Has the govt forgotten that ? No,Color of skin is similar now but Churchill is not dead, one Churchill goes another comes.
The plight of CAPFs in India has not changed just that British Raj is replaced by _bootlegged lobbies_ . After 72 years of Independence, one group has the audacity to not adhere to apex courts decision then I’m afraid democracy doesn’t apply to the CAPFs and it concludes that there can be colonialism in free press. The independence is lost not to the govt but to a private lobby.
The growing library is justified; the exploitative, imperial project in CAPF is awesome in its savagery and vindictiveness. At current date only 2% of the coveted decision making posts in CPOs are occupied by own cadre officers which makes it neither _Central_ nor _Police_ , nor an _Organization_ . The analogy of the atrocities can be labelled to that of the British Raj.
The CAPFs have always prided on their syncretic traditions. An young officer recently commissioned dreams of a future only for the country. His dreams, his trust, his desires are for his nation. The same nation he takes pride on, gives back to him in the form of denial of basic rights already given to him by Supreme Court, his trust is gone, his desires biting the dust. He forgets where he came from and if origin is forgotten, destination can’t be appreciated.
The British Raj revolved around one thing that is exploiting India of its men, resources, minerals.The Lobby Raj are exploiting the CAPFs of their soul. It is molesting and plundering their values, their ethos, their beliefs. An complete organization is being raped. Decision of Supreme Court is challenged. *_May god prevail some sense to our brothers who have dared to challenge the most sacrosanct institution in the country ?_*
_
*_Is a Gandhi required in the age of right Justice ?_*
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। 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।
यहां यह भी बताना आवश्यक होगा कि इन्ही बलों में अपने अधिकारी भर्ती करने का भी प्रावधान है परंतु उनके पदोन्नति के सीमित क्षेत्र है कारण की विशिष्ट वर्ग व सेवा के अतियोग्य अधिकारी जिन्होंने कभी इन बलों के आखरी व्यक्ति की दिनचर्या नहीं देखी,कभी अपने साथियों के साथ जमीन पर जंगल मे नहीं सोये और नाहीं कभी गोलियों की गड़गड़ाहट में सहमे हुए अपने साथी को ये हौसला दिया कि हम सब सही सलामत घर लौटेंगे,उनको प्रतिनियुक्ति के पर्याप्त मौके मिलने चाहिए। ऐसा ही एक चर्चित प्रकरण आप सभी के इर्दगिर्द चल रहा है जिसमे पहली बार इन बलों को देश की न्याय व्यवस्था के सिरमौर माननीय उच्छतम न्यायालय ने संगठित सेवा का दर्जा देते हुए उससे संबंधित सभी लाभ इन बलों के अधिकारियों के लिए देय किये। सरकार भी सालों न्यायालय में वरिष्ठ अधिकारियों के एक समूह के साथ इन् बलों के विपक्ष लड़ते हुए केस को हार गई उसके उपरांत संगठित सेवा व उससे संबंधित लाभ देने की घोषणा कर दी। अपने स्वाभिमान को सर उठाकर आकाश की तरफ उत्कर्ष करते देख बल के सभी अधिकारी सालों से चली आरही न्यायिक लड़ाई की खटास को भी भूल गए। भूल गए यही सरकार और यही वरिष्ठ अधिकारियों का संगठन इनके विपक्ष में पिछले सात वर्षों से न्यायालय में लड़ रहे थे। 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। जो कुछ अच्छा या लाभदायक सरकार द्वारा या माननीय उच्चतम न्यायालय के द्वारा जारी आदेश के माध्यम से किया जा रहा है उसमें अपनी साम्राज्यवादी सोच के वसीभूत हो जो अड़चने इस समूह द्वारा डाली जा रही हैं उनसे आपने इन बलों के कार्मिकों की नज़रों में अपनी बची हुई इज़्ज़त भी ख़ाक में मिला दी है। अंततः यही सत्य है कि हार तो आप सब चुके हैं अब इंतज़ार है विनम्रतापूर्वक आपके द्वारा अपनी हार स्वीकार किये जाने का और सही उत्तराधिकारियों को उनका अधिकार सौंप अपनी सच्चे कर्तव्यों का पालन करने जोकि आपका इंतेज़ार कहीं और संभवतः आपके महकमें में कर रहे हैं। यकीन मानिए इतना पानी बह जाने के बाद भी आपके ऐसा करने पर इन् बलों की महान परंपराओं के अनुरूप आपको आदर ही समर्पित किया जाएगा।
सादर।
स्वतंत्र भारत में हमने एक से कहीं ज्यादा ऐसे वाद देखे हैं जिनमें सुनवाई सालों चलती रही,और आज भी चल रही है उदाहरणार्थ-अयोध्या रामजन्म भूमि वाद। हमने ऐसे भी बहुत से मामले देखें जिनमे निचले न्यायालयों से होते हुए वाद सर्वोच्य न्यायालय तक पहुंचे और फैसला आने के उपरांत तत्कालीन सरकार ने कानून लाकर या संसोधन कर न्यायालय के फैसले को पलट दिया,उदाहरणार्थ-शाहबानो ‘ट्रिपल तलाक़’ वाद।
अब मैं स्वतंत्र भारत एक ऐसे मामले की चर्चा करने जा रहा हूँ जो अपने आप में अनूठा है-केन्द्रीय सशस्त्र पुलिस बलों से संबंधित बहुचर्चित मामला जो इन बलों के राजपत्रित अधिकारियों को सेवा के दौरान वित्तीय लाभ व प्रोन्नति प्रदान करने से संबंधित है। यह जानना यहां जरूरी है कि यह मामला आज से लगभग सात वर्ष पूर्व केंद्रीय बलों के अधिकारियों के एक समूह ने छटवें वेतन आयोग की अनुशंसाओं को ध्यान में रखते हुए दिल्ली उच्चन्यायालय के समक्ष पेटिशन के माध्यम से रखा था। न्यायालय के समक्ष रखी गयी प्रार्थना में केंद्र सरकार के समूह-ए राजपत्रित अधिकारियों को संगठित सेवा मानते हुए NFFU (समयातीत वित्तीय लाभ) प्रदान करने की प्रार्थना की गई थी। इस वाद में प्रतिवादी की भूमिका में केंद्र सरकार स्वयं रही व साथी के तौर पर सरकार के प्रिय और उच्च पदों पर आसीन बाबूसाहब लोगों का गिरोह जिसे वैधानिक स्वीकार्यता दिलाने हेतु “आईपीएस एसोसिएशन” कहा जाता है न्यायालय में प्रतिवादी की भूमिका में रहा। इससे भी रोचक तथ्य ये रहा कि इन बलों के शीर्ष पदों पर विराजमान अधिकतम अधिकारीगण व बलों के मुखिया (महानिदेशक) भारतीय पुलिस सेवा(आईपीएस) से ही हैं। ऐसे में अपने ही कनिष्ठ अधिकारियों के लाभ व प्रोन्नति के पथ में बाधा डाल इन सभी ‘आईपीएस एसोसिएशन’ के सदस्यों ने क्या कुछ खोया आप समझ सकते हैं। तारीख़ पर तारीख़ और सालों के संघर्ष के उपरांत पहले दिल्ली उच्च न्यायालय व कालांतर में (लगभग 3 वर्ष बाद) सर्वोच्च न्यायालय में सरकार व गिरोह दोनों औंधे मुंह गिरे व हार का सामना करना पड़ा। इस दौरान न्यायालय ने न्याय किया परंतु व्यवस्था ने जमकर वादियों के अधिकारों का उपहास किया-कोई खास तर्क या साक्ष्य न होने की सूरत में प्रतिवादी पक्ष ने एक से कहीं ज्यादा बार समय मांग बिना किसी नए प्रमाण को दिए बिना सालों तक केस को लटकाए रखा।
अभी भी इस देश में एक संस्था जिसे न्यायालय कहते हैं उसने अपना विश्वास लोगों में बहुत हद तक कायम रखा है। अंततः सर्वोच्य न्यायालय ने वादी यानी केंद्रीय बलों के पक्ष में फैसला सुनाते हुए 5 फरवरी,2019 को केंद्रीय बलों को संगठित समूह-ए सेवाओं में शामिल माना व केंद्र सरकार को इन बलों के अधिकारियों को NFFU व NFSG के सभी लाभ तय समय के भीतर देने हेतु निर्देश जारी किए।
इस कहानी का सबसे रोचक और हमारी व्यवस्था का सबसे उदासीन चेहरा इस भाग में छुपा है। न्यायालय में हारने व निर्देश पाने के उपरांत तथाकथित राष्ट्रवादी सरकार ने इन सुरक्षा बलों के बलिदानों(हाल ही का जम्मू-कश्मीर पुलवामा हमला) व कर्तव्यपरायणता को ध्यान में रखते हुए,सभी बातों के लिये(OGAS, NFFU, NFSG)कैबिनेट अप्रूवल प्रदान करते हुए बकायदा प्रेस कांफ्रेंस कर मीडिया को सूचित किया। इस उपलब्धि का श्रेय सत्ताधारी पार्टी ने अपने ट्विटर एकाउंट पर मैसेज लिखकर भी लिया। गृहमंत्रालय की वेबसाइट पर सरकार की 100 दिन की उपलब्धियों में इस उपलब्धि को सुनाया व भुनाया गया। इन सब दावों के बीच विडंबना देखिए कि इन कार्मिकों के हाथ आज लगभग सात महीने बितने के उपरांत भी कुछ नहीं आया। इसकी असली वजह भी समझिये,न्यायालय और सरकार से ऊपर भी शक्तिशाली व्यवस्था का एक पक्ष है और वो है-नौकरशाही या बाबुशाही! जिन उच्चपदों पर बैठे वर्दीधारी बाबुओं के गिरोह ने सालों विपक्ष में केस लड़ा उन्हें ही न्यायालय के सभी आदेश लागू करने का जिम्मा सौंपा गया यानी बिल्ली को दूध की रखवाली दी गयी। विगत 6 महीने से अधिक अवधि में इन् स्वमहिमा मंडित बाबुओं ने कितनी युक्तियों का प्रयोग किया,कभी ये समिति कभी वो बोर्ड,ध्येय बस एक कि अपना ढहता महल सहेज सकें अर्थात न्यायालय द्वारा दिये गए फैसले के अनुसार अपनी छिनती हुई प्रतिनियुक्तियों की रक्षा की जाए।
जब बात शुरू हुई है तो बताते चलें कि इन बलों में जिसमे मुख्यतः सीआरपीएफ,आईटीबीपी,एसएसबी,बीएसएफ व सीआईएसएफ शमिल हैं में इस आयातित नेतृत्व(आईपीएस)की भूमिका कोई खास नहीं है वरन महिमामंडित अधिक है। इन बलों का अपना अधिकारियों का कैडर है जिसकी नियुक्ति सीधे संघ लोक सेवा आयोग(यूपीएससी) करता है। बावजूद इसके दशकों इन बलों के कार्मिकों के साथ ऊंचाई-निचाई,धूप-बारिश,जंगल-पहाड़,डेंगू-मलेरिया,गोली-पत्थर,नक्सल-आतंकी का साथ साथ सामना करने व उनसे जितने के उपरांत भी इन कैडर अधिकारियों को इन बलों का नेतृत्व करने के काबिल नहीं समझा गया। दूसरी तरफ आयातित नेतृत्व(आईपीएस) जोकि इन बलों की रिवायतों व अनुसाशन से पूर्णतया अपरिचित व उनके प्रति उदासीन देखे गए इन बलों के कर्णधार मान लिये गए। एक लंबे दौर से इन बलों की बागडोर इन् आयातित अधिकारियों के हाथों में है,तो जाहिर है कुछ ऐसे भी लोग होंगे जिनकी उपलब्धियां व कार्य चर्चा का विषय हों परंतु अपवादों का हवाला दे हम इन बलों की हुई दुर्गति का निपटारा नहीं कर सकते। संभवतः इस केस,आये नतीजे व उन्हें लागू किये जाने में लगातार डाले जा रहे व्यवधानों से पूरी महिमामंडित बाबुशाही बिरादरी व उनका गिरोह पूरी तरह बेनकाब हुए हैं।
बलों की संस्कृति में विश्वास का अद्वितीय स्थान होता है। दुर्भाग्यवश इन महिमामंडित वर्दीधारी बाबुओं ने उस विश्वास को पूर्णतया खो दिया है व हठ और निर्लज्जता के साथ इन् आरामदायक पदों पर बिना किसी सेवा भाव जमे रहना चाहते हैं। इनके प्रशासन व व्यवस्था का पूर्ण परिचय देने हेतु मुझे ज्यादा प्रयास न करते हुए देश के किसी भी हिस्से के थाने या पुलिस व्यवस्था की ओर आपका ध्यान मात्र आकृष्ट करना होगा। अर्थात जब अपने महकमे व राज्य में ‘रामराज्य’ की स्थापना हो चली होगी तब कहीं जाकर “दुनिया की जटिलतम परीक्षा पास किये हुए” ये योद्धा इन दिन रात पैर पटकने वाले बलों (बकौल एक आईपीएस अधिकारी) को सुधारने हेतु त्याग व समर्पण की भावना लिये ज़िला मुख्यालयों से दण्डकारण्य के जंगलों में घूमते नासमझ कैडर अधिकारियों को रास्ता दिखाने यहां प्रतिनियुक्ति पर आ जाते हैं। इससे ज्यादा शर्म की बात शायद ही होगी कि इन् बलों का गौरव इनका अनुशासन, वर्दी,ड्रिल,इत्यादि सभी पहलुओं को बार बार इन स्वयंभू अवतारों द्वारा शर्मसार किया जाता है। कोई क्वार्टर गार्ड पर ट्रैक सूट में सलामी ले रहा है,कोई राष्ट्रगान में हाथ बांध नजाने कौन सी मुद्रा में खड़ा है। न राष्ट्रध्वज की गरिमा का ज्ञान है न वर्दी की अस्मिता का,बस वर्दी पहने ‘फैंसी ड्रेस’ कम्पटीशन में निकले हैं। जिसके चाहो उसके पैरों में गिर जाओ,सत्ता के गलियारे में जिसके यहां दरबान की जगह खाली हो वही चाटुकारिता की चासनी बहा डाली। इसके उपरांत यह भी भ्रम पाले बैठे हैं कि जनता में हमारी इज़्ज़त है। कबूतर की भांति अपनी आंखें बंद कर आयदिन अपनी झूठी इज़्ज़त का जिनाज़ा निकलते,रिश्वत लेते,ड्रग माफिया चलाते, राजनीतिज्ञों की चाटुकारिता में लीन समाज को खोखला करती अपने महकमे की ओर देखना ही नहीं चाहते।
केंद्रीय सुरक्षा बलों को NFFU व OGAS लागू कर सरकार को कालांतर में इन बलों का नेतृत्व कैडर अधिकारियों को सौंप इनकी दशा सुधारने की दिशा में उपयुक्त कदम उठाने ही पड़ेंगे अन्यथा इन बलों का मनोबल प्रभावित कर इस समूचे राष्ट्र में लोकतंत्र सुरक्षित रखना एक बड़ी चुनौती सिद्ध होगी।
~The Myth, of coordination between CRPF and Civil Police due to IPS leadership~
Under the garb of coordination, CRPF faces several discrimination and subjugation under the hands of Civil authorities especially District Police headed by an IPS, examples
1. The lack of stand on minimum requirement to set up a camp (both HQ and coy) results in lack of space, lack of basic amenities, low standards of infrastructure. This can be witnessed in every HQ or coy which has been provided by civil authorities. Barracks to transportation, from office to POL availability CRPF heavily depends on whims and mercy of civil administration. In contrast infrastructure build by CRPF is well structured and robust, recent sanctioning of SRE funds to CRPF in SOZ and J&K is the biggest example of this.
2. In operations, there is stark dilution of rank structure like there is several incidents where TI of a thana is made boss over ACs and DCs of CRPF, which results in serious discontent. Its true that in force gazetted ranks viz. AC and DC are made ground commanders but in no way they should work “under” someone who is way below both in rank structure and intellectual insight. Under IPS leadership CRPF has lost its true respect amidst the hierarchical structure of administration. An officer is an officer and he should get what the Gazette of India legally authorises him/her for.
3. While serving in SOZ I come to know that civil administration has failed miserably in providing even the basic rights of Citizens of this part. Poor roads, no electricity, pathetic PDS, miserable education, disabled PHCs, miniscule effort in employment generation and many more. Frankly speaking there is no administration at all. But, you can see CRPF camp even in farthest of villages providing a sense of Government and even giving their all (like Medicine, food, clothes and now making burma bridges too) through CAP or by self motivated ground commanders. The administration if willing could easily have taken help of CRPF camps by providing resources of civil administration but alas! this never were done or even tried on ground. They want our presence without having any vision to improve the situation. CRPF personnels laid down their life in making roads but slow pace, poor quality shows inconsiderate approach of civil authorities.
The “certain” changes when a Cadre Officer (A ground officer who actually have the experiences) gets the top Posts.
1. Taking stand while communicating with State/District Administration, like fulfilling basic SOP in providing camp infrastructure etc.
2. Starting from SP of district, to sector head of CRPF, DG in dte and officers in MHA are from IPS which has long decided for rest of 99.99999% of force. At least now we can expect “own members” taking stand and putting in for Forces’ welfare in MHA, like share of SRE directly to CRPF, deciding for policies like HRA, RHA, other allowances to force members etc. All this will certainly increase confidence in force which automatically increase coordination with local authorities (less dependence on mercy of civil administration).
3. Operational performance will increase if forces are considered for what they are meant like work “in aid” of civil police not “in place” of civil police.
Note :- One classic example to make you understand better is “Election duty”.
All the coordinators like sector for CRPF and district police are headed by IPS but we always see miserable management for accommodation and transportation and despite several SOPs we often see half section deployment irrespective of sensitivity of place. However, it is due to the leadership of “Cadre Officer” we have seen performance above expectation with utmost integrity and dignity. This is attested by the repeated recognition from EC and Judiciary in official proclamations. We can easily see the difference in performance by “Cadre Officers” and IPS bosses.
The myth has to be broken, we have been betrayed over this for long and even now we see IPS association which was the main opponent in OGAS case are now implementing the same with an ill intention and un professional way. They have failed earlier and now they are losing respect too.
The kind of reputation you carry in journalism, the authors carry same reputation in their field………….this summarizes the response to this venom in the disguise of article
What a waste of time and public space..
Hardly ever seen such useless editorial full of misinformation and twisted facts to prove a point, a wrong one.
In hurry of proving their point the authors completely missed their topic i.e. “If CAPF cadre wants to be treated as civil servants, it must develop citizen-centric values” and kept beating around bush with no logic.
The personal bias and vendetta of authors, IPS who are holding responsible posts in GoI, against CAPFs cadre officers is evident and they tried their level best to misguide the readers by presenting half facts mixed in jumbled manner as per their convenience.
Last but not least these gentlemen not only shown the audacity to question the jurisprudence of judiciary “The Supreme Court” but also questioned the decision of Govt. Of India reg declaration of CAPFs as OGAS.
These two so called super intellectual in their personal bias against CAPFs cadre crossed limits of rational thinking and sound logic and kept trying to paint CAPFs as blood sucking draculla who every now and then violates human rights or as If heaven may fall if CAPFs gets it’s legitimate dues(OGAS), duly vetted by judiciary(The Supreme Court) and accepted by Parliament.
Shame !
The entire points made out by the IPS officers are-
1. So far, the policy consensus had been that the CAPF officer cadre will play a supporting role to the IPS officers who will provide strategic leadership. That consensus is now being challenged.-
# Who made this policy consensus? And thus who benefitted from this so far?
2. The best guarantee of internal security is a well-resourced police force that enjoys public trust and confidence, and not merely heavily armed boots on the ground-
#So the writers mean that if IPS are not there then no need for CAPFs? Police will take care. Has common man ever felt confidence in police?
3. The experience of armed forces around the world suggests that tactical brilliance is neither a necessary nor a sufficient condition for strategic leadership. This is why senior commanders undertake Strategic Leadership Courses in India and abroad to equip them to understand the role of the organisation they head in a rapidly changing world.-
# If tactical brilliance is not sufficient then what the hell has been nurtured by IPS so far? Has any top leadership ever felt that CAPF cadre officers may also be put to these so called strategic leadership courses abroad like IPS officers go?
4. It’s mostly the police stations that need personnel but that is where there is the maximum resource gap. Also, policing is best done within a strictly legal framework, subject to law and limited by law. If the CAPF cadre genuinely aspires to be treated as civil services, a lot of work will be required to reorient the forces towards a more citizen-centric ethos.
# Still none of the CAPF can think of brutally lathi charging citizens like police do enjoyably and slap citizens day in day out on the roads, looting the poor fruit seller on road. CAPFs are well reoriented towards citizens.
5. The military and police leadership in India have distinguished themselves with their professionalism, broad acceptability in society as well from the elected leaders. And they have never allowed India’s constitutional system to be imperiled. What the CAPF cadres are demanding has huge national security implications and for the contours of our civil-military equations.
# this equation can be disturbed only if the IPS ruled state police starts acting in revenge against the interests of CAPFs . Civil(IPS)- military (CAPFs) equations can be managed similarly it is done in case of actual military .
So largely the issues pointed are of course have good english but no solid logic. Reflects merely the ill feeling against CAPF officers. The social media vitriol is not good though from any corner.
Should the central police forces be more militarised? They are already seen in military fatigues working in the line of Army. They should better be called as Para military forces headed by an Army commander.
Should the central police forces be more militarised or should they be made more accountable to citizens, the law and elected representatives? This is the most important question that must guide the debate. The leadership role given to each cadre should follow from that. Anything else would amount to placing the cart before the horse.-
Let
the BSF guard the international borders
CRPF assist in internal security
SSB guard the international borders
ITBP guard the indo Tibet border
CISF guard the central govt assets.
State Police – Win the trust of public and root out the century old corruption and stop playing the tools of state govt.
When schadenfreudestic approach is adopted to criticise the other services then Throorian outburst of floccinaucinihililpilfication is the proverbial outcome. The very essence of dislike and contempt toward the cadre officers of CAPFs by the likes of the two gentlemen who wrote the article has squarely led to the acrimony which has made deep ripples in the hitherto strong relationship amongst Officers of various services in the CAPFs.
Actually when we suffer from IKE (I know Everything) syndrome, the arrogance within us doesn’t allow logic and rationality to remain alive for longer duration. The shallowness in claiming that tactical knowledge is not necessary for the strategical leadership is akin to say that base camp 1,2,3,and 4 are not necessary to climb Mt Everest and one can use parachute to land at the top of Mt Everest. Isn’t such an approach simply laughable.
The Cadre Officers of CAPFs are maintaining a superb interface with civil population across the length and breadth of the country. CAPFs have to move in as First tier of union government to cover-up the failure of state police which is invariably led by whom? We all are aware. So the focus should be to make police stations more people friendly and feel the need to make police personnel sensitive towards the citizens of this nation. How civil police is looked down by the citizens of this country, the reflection of the same can be seen in every part of the country. That the civil police has been bestowed with huge legal powers doesn’t mean that they are performing their duites as per the requirement.
Mr Asthana has correctly underlined the fact that quit gracefully. If one examination is the criteria for judging the the intellectual depth of an individual then Indian bureaucracy would not have been at 78 rank out of 150 nation’s transparency on corruption and performance list.
Why the writers are apprehensive about duality of the role to be performed by the cadre officers of CAPFs. This is an era of multi skilled soldiers. And for the information of the writers, CAPFs are also armed forces of the union and when comparison is to be made with Army one need to write defence forces. For criminal offences committed against civilians , such a rape, murder etc, no force court of the CAPFs hold trial rather individuals are handed over to the civil police. We need to know the fact before pointing out the drawbacks which are not there.
Believe me cadre leadership of the CAPFs will never accept failures in any field and professional health of all the CAPFs will witness a greater degree of improvement. So please plan your exit gracefully from CAPFs and maintain self dignity by appreciating other services. .
Very negative and biased view..
Not expected from an IPS officer of IG rank…
Had you provided that strategic leadership to the state police, u don’t require capf in first place. Your failure to tackle the law and order situation forced the govt to look for other alternative i.e CAPF. How can you provide strategic leadership to capf when you failed miserably doing so in state police department. And against ur argument for “merit” i would like to tell u that prior to selection everyone was a student and everyone is from different streams. Even ips officers are less experienced than constable prior to training. It’s the training and experience which inculcate leadership equalities not the civil service exam. People can be an ips even in his 30s but for capf officer you must be with in 25 years of age. So we can also say, people who failed in capf exam later become ips officer.
The central armed police force was raised by ips and officers from the Indian army, with time army officers returned to their own service but ips refused to do so. If ips is so keen on heading the capf then why don’t they come on deputation at an early stage as a company commander and lead anti naxal operation from the front. Rather they want to be para dropped above dig level where they hardly take part in any field area operation. For the ips it’s only a way to escape from the political pressure they face as state police officers. Time and again the capf has proved its mettle and it’s high time that the cadre officers headed their own forces. All the reasons stated are just an excuse to subdue the demands of capf officers. No doubt military leadership has proved itself time and again but the same cannot be said about police leadership examples can be cited about recent dgp level officer being suspended to multiple bribery cases pending against them. Now that the government has approved ogas for capf and the police officers can see their end in capf they are simply trying to ridicule the brave cadre officers by merely judging them on the basis of an exam. The end of ips tyranny in capf is almost over.
Had you provided that strategic leadership to the state police, u don’t require capf in first place. Your failure to tackle the law and order situation forced the govt to look for other alternative i.e CAPF. How can you provide strategic leadership to capf when you failed miserably doing so in state police department. And against ur argument for “merit” i would like to tell u that prior to selection everyone was a student and everyone is from different streams. Even ips officers are less experienced than constable prior to training. It’s the training and experience which inculcate leadership equalities not the civil service exam. People can be an ips even in his 30s but for capf officer you must be with in 25 years of age. So we can also say, people who failed in capf exam later become ips officer.
The CAPFs as has been brought out in the article above, has a unique role and task to play. They have a military set up with a civilian and military task and role to play. Hence it is different from the Armed forces as well as the Police. It has got a multi-dimensional role to play. Say for example, the BSF when deployed along the Line of Control has a pure Military role to play but plays a pure Policing role when deployed on internal security duties. As such, these organizations need Leadership who are as unique as their organizations, officers who have grown from within themselves. Because of their unique task and roles as entrusted upon them by the Government, a pure military or a pure police leadership is a misfit. And this is just the simple demand that the CAPF cadre officers are asking. They are just asking their own dues . They are neither asking for a share of the cake from the IPS nor from the Armed Forces. Let us all serve our motherland in our own dignified ways with respect for each other. Jai Hind
By citizen-centric do you mean the following: Spineless, Pacifist, Corrupt and Sycophant? Because thats how IPS officers are known to behave once they are in service. And what intellectual heft are you talking about? Have the IPS officers made any significant changes to police structure or systems? They still work on 100 year old methods of chowkis and lathis, with no modernization at all. CAPF are far better in policing than your policewala gundas. Its when YOU FAIL that the CAPF comes in play. Thats why they need a better deal
Please study some facts before spewing venom against the CAPF and it’s Cadre officers and misguide the people of country . After reading your article it is well understood that you just want to create a tussle between CAPF and other sister organizations and wants to mislead them . One Can easily understand that you just want to spread rumors against the oppressed and ignored community ie CAPF.
Now I would like to answer your various lies which you have profoundly narrated in your article against the lesser son of mother India.
1. You have quoted that most of the Armed forces officers retire at the rank of Lt Col.
Post Kargil War and Bagga Commission there is time scale assured promotion up to the rank of Colonel in 25 years (u can verify that) . Every officer becomes Lt col in 13 years with pay Band 4( Pre revised ) whereas in CAPF an officer takes minimum 20 years to become Second in command equal to Let Col with just pay Band 3 , grade pay 7600 only. (Pre revised)
2. You have mentioned that CAPF are enjoying the facilities of Armed forces . I think u have served in one of the CAPF ( reflects by your article) , which type of facilities ie CSD, Hospitals, Military Service Pay, ESM quota, Seats in each ? of country through MCO, most important PENSION etc being enjoyed by troops of CAPF. It is understood that you may have some personal problems with CAPF officers but have u even thought about the troops those have been under your Command. Which type of facilities out of above mentioned they are getting. Before spreading lies think about those inocent and loyal troops whom you have been commanding or will be commanding in future.
3. You have mentioned about social media being used by CAPF officers against the Government. While writing this u must have quoted at leasteast one example . CAPF officers and Men are so disciplined and matured even they will not utter a single word against their commanders like you how they can initiate a propoganda against government. It is mere a rumour through which you wants to settle some scores but trust me u will not succed.
4. I agree with you on the point of CAPF have been raised and IPS officers . But Cadre officers have nurtured these forces by their sweat and blood. Apart from few noteable DGs like Shri Prakash Singh Bhaudria, Shri K Vijay Kumar, Shri ML Kumawat rest all have been busy to enjoy their tenure or damaging the knitty gritty of these forces. Even those who haven’t contributed will also be given due respect as same has been flowing in the veins of officers and Men of these brave forces.
5. Last point as u discussed about selection process. What is your problem if government merge the exam with Civil service. IPS have been demanding several benefits bestowed to the IAS like secretary posts, abolishing of two years difference in OGAS status what wrong if CAPF officers are raising their legitimate and long pending much deserved demands.
Truth will prevail one day surely ,it may be late . Jai Hind.
sir, you must introspect why we are disgruntled lot and secondly you are encouraging a different class of elitism (basically economical casteism) by praising only IPS..others are also capable, however u have to have positive attitude to enable them to owe responsibilities..this is not colonial rule where leadership is forced..let the nation first by giving equal opportunity to all to excel…
Being a so called disgruntled junior,I look upon you to kindly look for rectification without any prejudice as IPS word itself signifies as Indian first and then a class… regards sir
THIS SENTENCE WILL CAUSE MOST INDIANS TO LAUGH
“… police leadership in India have distinguished themselves with their professionalism, broad acceptability in society as well from the elected leaders. And they have never allowed India’s constitutional system to be imperiled.”
What world does the IPS Officer who wrote the self serving article live in.
The IPS has always used the CAPF as jobs for its boys, the IPS officers are often mediocre and reluctant to put themselves in danger,. INDIA has one of the worst police forces in the world. The blame lies at the door of the useless IPS who were the senior management of state police for 70 years.
The game is up IPS, just go you are not wanted here, the CAPF cadre is professional enough to manage without you. Go back to your corrupt police in your home states.