The Central Armed Police Forces (General Administration) Act, 2026 is now in force, even as cadre officers’ challenge to its validity remains pending before the Supreme Court.
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New Delhi: The Union Government has notified the Central Armed Police Forces (General Administration) Act, 2026 (CAPF Act 2026), bringing it into force from October 8, while petitions by CAPF cadre officers challenging the law, along with a contempt petition, are pending before the Supreme Court [CAPF Officers’ Challenge To CAPF (General Administration) Act, 2026 Matter].
The Ministry of Home Affairs notification states that the Centre “hereby appoints October 8, 2026, as the date on which the provisions of the said Act shall come into force.” Parliament passed the Act in April 2026. The Act regulates recruitment, promotion, deputation and other service conditions in the CRPF, BSF, CISF, ITBP and SSB, which earlier rested on executive orders.
What The Act Provides
As reported, the Act reserves 50 per cent of Inspector General rank posts in these forces for Indian Police Service officers on deputation. At least 67 per cent of Additional Director General rank posts are earmarked for IPS officers, and Special Director General and Director General rank posts are to be filled only by IPS officers on deputation.
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Cadre Officers’ Challenge
Cadre officers of the CAPFs have challenged the validity of the Act. The petitions include a contempt petition. The petitioners contend that the Act continues to restrict their career progression compared with IPS officers brought in on deputation, and they ask the Court to direct the Government to implement its May 2025 judgment, under which IPS deputation up to IG rank was to be “progressively reduced” over two years. In May 2025, the Court also ordered a cadre review, and in October 2025 it dismissed the Centre’s review petition against that judgment.
Centre’s Position
In an affidavit before the Supreme Court, the Centre has said that appointments of Group ‘A’ general duty officers in the CAPFs are now regulated by the Act. It argues that the Act “expressly empowers” the Union Government to prescribe the method, manner and mode of recruitment, including by deputation, and service conditions. These are the parties’ contentions; the Court has not ruled on the Act’s validity.
Where The Matter Stands
As reported earlier by LawChakra, a Special Bench of Justice Manoj Misra and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan has listed the officers’ contempt case along with the challenge to the CAPF Act on October 15, to examine whether the directions in the 2025 judgment stand independent of the new law.
Case Details: CAPF (General Administration) Act, 2026, in force from 8 October 2026 by Ministry of Home Affairs notification; challenge and contempt petition pending before the Supreme Court of India. Case numbers and petitioners’ names not reported.
Appearances: Not reported.