The Supreme Court ordered the home ministry to submit original CAPF cadre review files. Their scrutiny will test alleged delays and non-compliance with its 2025 directions.
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Newdelhi,Oct 15, 2026 21:00 IST
The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Ministry of Home Affairs to produce the original files related to cadre review proposals for the Central Armed Police Forces to determine whether they were sent after the six-month deadline set by the court in 2025, news agency Press Trust of India reported.
A bench of Justices Manoj Mishra and Ujjal Bhuyan said the enactment of the new Central Armed Police Forces law would not affect the cadre review of five forces. It asked the ministry to submit files detailing the action taken on the court's directions, including the cadre review proposals.
Justice Mishra told Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, who appeared for the Centre, that the ministry should produce all the files. Bhati said there was “nothing to hide” and that the government had acted in a bona fide manner to comply with the directions issued in May 2025. She assured the bench that the files would be produced at the next hearing.
The court listed the matter for further hearing on October 27. It includes a contempt petition filed by CAPF officials alleging non-compliance with the court's directions and the Centre's application seeking more time to complete the cadre review.
The court refused to temporarily stop the deputation of Indian Police Service officers to the CAPFs. It said issuing such a direction without data may not be appropriate as it could create an administrative vacuum.
The bench noted that the Centre had filed several affidavits outlining the steps taken after the court's May 23, 2025 order. CAPF employees, however, alleged in their contempt petition that the directions had not been followed.
The employees argued that the new CAPF law would have no bearing on the direction requiring the Centre to conduct cadre reviews in all the forces. The reviews had been due since 2021 and were required to be completed within six months of the May 23, 2025 order.
The bench also noted the employees' submission that the Supreme Court's 2025 judgment had directed the Centre to progressively reduce posts reserved for deputation in the CAPFs up to the Senior Administrative Grade, including deputy inspector general-level posts. Although the court had set a maximum period of two years for the reduction, the employees said the process had not begun.
According to PTI, the CAPF employees alleged that the home ministry issued letters on December 26, 2025, and February 3, 2026, asking all the forces to undertake a comprehensive review of their existing Group A cadres and submit proposals. They argued that the proposals were invited after the six-month deadline and described this as a flagrant violation of the court's order.
Bhati said a cadre review was a lengthy process involving several aspects and that work began soon after the May 2025 order, even though a review petition against the judgment was dismissed on October 28, 2025. She said the new law passed by Parliament was notified on October 8 and that an application seeking more time was filed in March 2026.
During the hearing, senior advocate Shyam Divan, appearing for the CAPF employees, said 63 IPS officers had been deputed to the forces after the May 2025 judgment. They included 32 deputy inspectors general, 27 inspectors general and two commandants. Senior advocates Arvind Datar, Guru Krishnakumar, K Parmeshwar and others also presented arguments alleging non-compliance by the Centre.
The Central Armed Police Forces (General Administration) Act, 2026, came into force on October 8. It provides a common framework for the recruitment and service conditions of Group A general duty officers and other CAPF officers.
The contempt proceedings were initiated against Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan over the alleged failure to comply with the Supreme Court's May 23, 2025 verdict in the Sanjay Prakash and Others versus Union of India and Others case.
The court had earlier sought an explanation from the home ministry over the deputation of 46 IPS officers to five CAPFs despite its direction to progressively reduce deputation posts up to the Senior Administrative Grade level. On September 2, it directed the home secretary to explain the procedure followed and why the deputations were made after the 2025 judgment. The ministry and the Department of Personnel and Training were also asked to submit details of the steps taken to comply with the verdict.
The proceedings are significant in view of the Central Armed Police Forces (General Administration) Act, 2026. The law provides for 50 per cent of inspector general posts and at least 67 per cent of additional director general posts to be filled through IPS deputation. It also says that special director general and director general posts will be filled through deputation.
The Supreme Court will resume the hearing on October 27 after examining the home ministry's original files, the alleged delay in initiating the cadre reviews, the deputation of IPS officers and the Centre's request for more time.
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