The Supreme Court has recorded the Centre’s assurance that the CAPF cadre review committee will submit its proposal for approval by November 30, 2026, and sought comparative details of IPS deputations in the five forces.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on October 28 examined the progress of the cadre review of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and sought details of Indian Police Service officers serving on deputation up to the Senior Administrative Grade (SAG).
A Bench of Justices Manoj Misra and Ujjal Bhuyan heard contempt proceedings concerning implementation of the Court’s May 23, 2025 judgment in Sanjay Prakash and Others v. Union of India and Others, alongside petitions challenging the CAPF (General Administration) Act, 2026.
After examining the original files, the Bench observed, “We see that they are in violation of the direction for cadre review”. Justice Manoj Misra also said the Court wanted to examine “whether the judgment was followed in letter and spirit or on paper”, explaining why it needed the deputation figures from the date of the 2025 judgment. These were oral observations during the hearing; the available reports do not establish a final finding of contempt.
Proposal For Approval By November 30
Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Centre, informed the Court that the forces had submitted their proposals and that the cadre review committee was examining them. She assured the Bench that the committee would submit a proposal for approval by November 30.
The assurance concerns submission of a proposal for approval. It does not, on the information presently available, establish that the final approval or the entire cadre review will be completed by that date.
The Bench sought an affidavit detailing the proposal prepared by the committee and listed the matter for further hearing on December 9, 2026.
Court Seeks IPS Deputation Figures
The Court also asked the Centre for force-wise information on IPS deputation up to the SAG level, corresponding to Inspector General rank, as it stood on May 23, 2025 and by the next hearing. The information is intended to help the Bench compare the position before and after its judgment.
The exercise covers the Border Security Force, Central Reserve Police Force, Central Industrial Security Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police and Sashastra Seema Bal.
Senior Advocate Guru Krishnakumar, for the contempt petitioners, argued that deputations had increased despite the direction to reduce them progressively. The Centre disputed the criticism.
ASG Bhati submitted that, across the five forces, there were 13,491 Group A posts, of which 213 were sanctioned for IPS deputation and 129 were occupied by IPS officers on deputation. These are the Centre’s figures for the broader Group A establishment; they should not be treated as a force-wise comparison of posts up to SAG.
The Bench indicated that the 2025 judgment did not require all IPS deputation to be reduced to zero. The question was whether the required progressive reduction had taken place.
The 2025 Judgment And The Contempt Case
In its May 23, 2025 judgment, a Bench of Justice Abhay S. Oka and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan directed a cadre review of the forces within six months. It also directed a progressive reduction in deputation posts up to SAG over approximately two years, and a review of service and recruitment rules.
Serving and retired cadre officers subsequently moved contempt petitions alleging that those directions had not been implemented. The Centre has maintained that the review process was initiated and has sought additional time.
On October 15, the Bench directed the Ministry of Home Affairs to produce original files showing the action taken on the cadre review. At that stage, it declined to stop IPS deputations through an interim order, noting the need for adequate data and the risk of an administrative vacuum.
The 2026 Act And Pending Challenge
The CAPF (General Administration) Act, 2026, brought into force on October 8, provides a framework for recruitment and service conditions in the forces. Its validity is under challenge in separate writ petitions being heard with the contempt matters.
The officers contend that the new law cannot excuse non-compliance with time-bound directions issued before it came into force. The Centre relies on the statutory framework governing recruitment and deputation. The questions raised in the challenge remain pending.
Why The Order Matters
The cadre review can affect the structure of posts and prospects for officers serving in the forces. The affidavits sought by the Court should give the Bench a clearer picture of both the review’s progress and the change, if any, in IPS deputations since its 2025 judgment.
The November 30 submission date is a step in that process. The December 9 hearing is expected to allow the Court to examine the proposal and comparative data; it remains to be seen what further directions will follow.
Case: Mahendra Singh Deo and Others v. Govind Mohan and Others, and connected matters
Case number: Contempt Petition (C) No. 37 of 2026 in Civil Appeal No. 13106 of 2024, and connected matters
Bench: Justices Manoj Misra and Ujjal Bhuyan
Hearing date: October 28, 2026
Next hearing: December 9, 2026
Appearances: Senior Advocate Guru Krishnakumar for the petitioners; Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati for the Centre
Editorial note: The supplied order PDF could not be accessed for independent examination at the time of drafting. The account of the October 28 hearing and order is based on available reports and should be checked against the original before publication.