A bench of Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and Atul S. Chandurkar has asked the Supreme Court’s Registry to explain why a contempt petition about the implementation of its May 2025 judgment on CAPF cadre matters was struck off the cause list, despite an order directing its listing at 2 p.m. on September 29. The court directed that the petition, along with related matters, be listed again at 2 p.m. on September 30 and requested a note from the Registry explaining the removal.
The petition stems from the Supreme Court’s May 23 2025 ruling that the government must progressively reduce the deputation of Indian Police Service officers to senior CAPF posts, limiting such appointments to the Senior Administrative Grade or below and mandating a review of cadre and service rules within six months. The court earlier sought an explanation from Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, who filed a detailed affidavit on September 23. During the hearing of the contempt petition filed by retired CAPF officers on September 2, Justice Bhuyan noted a strong lobby against the officers and that CAPF cadre officers were effectively stifled.
Later that day, Chief Justice Surya Kant constituted a special bench to hear the matter, appointing Justices Manoj Mishra and Ujjal Bhuyan. The bench will now consider the petition and related issues, following the court’s directive to re‑list the case and record the reasons for its prior removal from the schedule.
The government’s attempt to circumvent the 2025 judgment led to the CAPFs (General Administration) Act, 2026, published on April 9. Five writ petitions challenging the legislation are scheduled for hearing before the Supreme Court on November 18. The Alliance of All Ex Para‑Military Forces Welfare Association, representing former and serving personnel, says the matter affects about 13,000 CAPF cadre officers and argues that the petition’s removal from the cause list may constitute improper interference, noting that the 2025 directions have not been fully implemented.
