The Union Government has strongly defended the CAPFs (General Administration) Act, 2026, in the affidavit filed in the Supreme Court, saying it does not conflict with its 2025 judgment. The top court, in its May 2025 judgment, had directed the Centre for a progressive reduction of the IPS officers’ deputation to the five Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs).
Under the CAPF Act, 50 percent of IG posts, at least 67 percent of Additional DG posts, and all posts of Special DG and DG ranks have been reserved for IPS officers on deputation.
The Home Ministry, the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) filed a joint affidavit in the apex court on Wednesday, describing the new law as a permissible measure that changed the legal basis of the court’s directions.
The Centre has sought the dismissal of a petition filed by CAPF cadre officers challenging the Act.
The Centre said that the CAPF officers have challenged it for retaining deputation posts and not resolving promotion stagnation among cadre officers.
On the other hand, the petition filed by the CAPF officers argues that the law was enacted to overrule the Supreme Court’s May 2025 judgment, and that the new law does not address stagnation in the promotion of cadre officers due to the deputation of the IPS officers in the CAPFs.
Significantly, the Centre added that the Supreme Court “does not sit in judgement” over the wisdom of a policy unless it is “palpably arbitrary, mala fide or contrary to the Constitution or a Statute.”
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