CAPFs battle for equality (English Version) Rakshak News 18 Sep 19
http://www.rakshaknews.com/forces/central-armed-forces-fight-for-equality
CAPFs battle for equality (English Version) Rakshak News 18 Sep 19
In February this year, the Supreme Court had ruled that CAPF (Central Armed Police Forces) cadre officers should be accorded the status of ‘Organised Group A Service’ (OGAS). This implied that CAPF officers could now be eligible for Non-Functional Financial Upgradation (NFFU) and Non-Functional Selection Grade (NFSG). Based on the directions of the court, the National Cabinet in Jul accorded OGAS status to officers of the CAPF as also approved extension of NFFU and NFSG benefits. The government then informed the Supreme Court of its decision. It was granted a deadline of two months to ensure that the financial benefits reach affected officers.
The deadline ends on 30th September and yet final directions have not been issued. The reason for the delay is attempts by the IPS lobby to scuttle Supreme Court directions. The IPS presently heads the CAPFs, on deputation, and fears that the grant of NFFU would open promotional and financial avenues for CAPF cadre officials and reduce their avenues.
It has begun projecting that despite the court order, recruitment rules cannot be amended retrospectively, thereby implying that only 5% of the existing cadre officers would meet the criteria for grant of benefits. The reality is that if the NFSG is approved, CAPF cadre officers would be promoted till the IG rank, thus reducing deputation avenues for IPS officers.
Instead of the Home Ministry, which controls the CAPFs and the IPS, approaching the court for any clarification, it is the IPS association which has approached the Supreme Court seeking a clarification on the issue. Evidently, a means of delaying and scuttling apex court orders. The CAPFs had to fight the same IPS association to gain their deserved benefits. The battle subsequently moved from the courts to social media and had such an impact that the Home Secretary had to step in and demand an end to social media battles.
The atmosphere within the CAPFs had deteriorated to the level that the hierarchy of the CAPFs began distrusting their IPS bosses. While it may not directly impinge functioning at the grassroot levels (Battalion and Company), it would impact planning, procurement, reporting and tasking.
The present Home Secretary, Ajay Kumar Bhalla, recently heard all parties involved in the dispute and promised to resolve the case meeting some demands of everyone. A statement issued last week stated that the MHA is considering a proposal that will monetarily grant relief to CAPF officers by partially acceding to their demands. It is seeking a mid-path to avoid being pulled up by the supreme court for contempt. The DoPT also supported the MHA.
The Home Secretary stated this in a meeting with senior CAPF officers on 05 Sept. This was the first time, that representatives of the affected cadre were ever given an audience. Till now, their case was being projected in a negative manner by the IPS.
The IPS cadre precedes the CAPF cadre and hence, once the raisings of CAPFs began, the government inducted IPS in senior positions. With almost seven decades of experience on ground and in handling their forces, the CAPF cadre are qualified to run their own organizations. They have proved their mettle in tough regions including Naxal dominated areas, along the active LoC and in handling militancy alongside the army in the valley.
The IPS on the other hand sit in positions of power with almost no experience of ground realities. They have neither served at the grassroot level nor have any experience of the region where the CAPFs serve. They only seek deputations to enhance promotional avenues and the perks which accompany it. There have been instances of them even disrespecting CAPF traditions, including nominating officers for collecting baggage of seniors and taking salutes in Quarter Guard, an area of pride, in track suits.
The IPS may claim that they are posted as per government norms yet fail to convince the national public as to why norms made decades ago cannot be changed, as the environment has changed and the CAPFs have learnt over time. The IPS over the years has enhanced its own promotional and deputation avenues with multiple investigative agencies being opened and existing ones expanded. Why do they need to grab and hold onto more, especially those where their knowledge is almost Zilch? Possibly greed and perks of the appointment.
Within the CAPFs, the rule that must be followed should be the same as adopted by the IPS at state levels and the army, where those who commenced their service from the grassroot level should head the service. Inflow from other cadres should not be resorted to. The MHA should take a unilateral decision and direct that deputations be scrapped, and only in-service officers promoted. This will enhance the efficiency of the force.
About the Author
Maj Gen Harsha Kakkar
Retired Major General Indian Army