Supreme Court Demands Affidavit on IPS Postings in CAPFs
The Supreme Court has ordered Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan to file an affidavit explaining the procedure for posting IPS officers to Central Armed
The Supreme Court has ordered Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan to explain the procedure used for posting Indian Police Service officers to the Central Armed Police Forces. The order, uploaded on September 5, 2026, specifically questions the appointment of 46 IPS officers after a court judgment in May 2025 directed a progressive reduction in such deputations.
Justice Ujjal Bhuyan had previously observed orally that a "strong lobby" was at work and that cadre officers of the CAPFs were being "completely stifled." The bench, also comprising Justice Atul S. Chandurkar, has now formally demanded an explanation from the Home Secretary. The court stated it "shall continue monitoring of implementation of the judgment" from 2025.
Details of the Court's Directive
The court's order requires the Home Secretary to detail the procedure followed for bringing IPS officers on deputation to the five CAPFs. It asks whether formal requisitions were made by the borrowing departments and the reasons for making these appointments despite the 2025 directive. The Home Secretary has been given two weeks to file this affidavit.
In a previous affidavit, the government informed the court that 46 IPS officers had been brought into the CAPFs up to the Senior Administrative Grade level after the 2025 judgment. The distribution of these officers across the different forces was provided.
| Force | Number of IPS Officers Posted |
|---|---|
| Border Security Force (BSF) | 13 |
| Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) | 11 |
| Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) | 9 |
| Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) | 6 |
| Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) | 7 |
The 2025 Judgment and Subsequent Legislation
The court's May 2025 judgment had directed that the number of posts earmarked for IPS deputation in the CAPFs up to the Senior Administrative Grade level should be progressively reduced within an upper limit of two years. This order was the subject of a contempt petition filed by former CAPF officers, which led to the latest hearing.
Subsequently, the government enacted the CAPFs (General Administration) Act, 2026, which was gazetted on April 9. According to The Hindu, this legislation formalizes a significant percentage of posts for IPS officers. The Act mandates that 50% of Inspector General posts, at least 67% of Additional Director General posts, and all Special Director General and Director General posts in all CAPFs shall be filled by IPS officers on deputation.
The Act also removed a previous 50% cap on Deputy Inspector General posts that were to be filled by Group A CAPF officers. This change paves the way for a higher percentage of IPS deputation. Seven writ petitions challenging this legislation have been filed and are scheduled for a hearing before the Supreme Court on November 18.
The court's latest order shows its intent to maintain oversight of the implementation of its 2025 ruling. The hearing on the contempt petition regarding non-implementation of that order was held on September 2.
