Supreme Court finds stark non-compliance with its order for a cadre review of the Central Armed Police Forces

17 October 2026

A bench of Justice Manoj Misra and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan held on 15 October 2026 that non-compliance with the Court's 2025 directions on the Central Armed Police Forces appeared stark.
The contempt petition is Mahendra Singh Deo v. Govind Mohan and others, Contempt Petition (C) No. 37/2026 in C.A. No. 13106/2024.
The underlying judgment of 23 May 2025, by Justice Abhay S. Oka and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, had directed a cadre review of all CAPFs within six months, amendment of each force's recruitment rules within six months in line with the Department of Personnel and Training memorandum of 12 July 2019 recognising CAPFs as Organised Group-A Services, and an end to IPS deputations to CAPFs.
Paragraph 45 of that judgment required a progressive reduction of deputation posts up to the Senior Administrative Grade level, with an outer limit of two years.
The Home Ministry wrote to all CAPFs on 26 December 2025 and 3 February 2026 inviting cadre review proposals, which petitioners said came after the six-month deadline.
The CAPF (General Administration) Act, 2026, Act No. 9 of 2026, was notified on 8 October 2026; separate petitions challenging its validity are pending.
The Court directed the Centre to produce files on action taken under the 2025 order and listed the matter on 28 October 2026.