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Rajya Sabha: Treasury benches call CAPF Bill 'much-needed reform'

New Delhi, Apr 1 (PTI) Ruling NDA members on Wednesday lauded the Central Armed Police Forces (General Administration) Bill, calling it a long-pending reform, while the opposition slammed it as "discriminatory" and a "threat' to institutional autonomy. Participating in the debate on the Bill in the Rajya Sabha, BJP members argued that the legislation would bring much-needed uniformity across paramiltary forces such as the CRPF, BSF, CISF and ITBP. Nominated member supporting the BJP, Ghulam Ali, said disparities in promotions among personnel of the same rank and service record had led to "resentment in the cadre", adding that the Bill would address these anomalies. He stressed the need for better information-sharing and integration among forces, claiming that past lapses, including in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir, were exacerbated by communication gaps. Ali said the Bill will virtually create "one nation, one CAPF". Echoing the government's position, Ajit Madhavrao of the BJP said under the Modi government, incidents of Left Wing Extremism (LFE) had declined due to "political will" and improved coordination between CAPFs and state police. "This change has not happened on its own," he said, asserting that those opposing it were placing politics above national security. Mayankkumar Nayak described the Bill as a step towards modernisation of the CAPFs, noting that fragmented rules had led to confusion over promotions and litigation. Referring to the 2010 Dantewada attack in which 76 jawans were killed, he said the absence of a unified command under previous governments had proved costly. He said the proposed legislation would end contradictions and provide a uniform legal framework for the paramilitary forces. Nayak also said that the Modi government was "compelled" to bring the Bill. Brij Lal of the BJP mentioned an incident from 1980, when he claimed the then CBI director was asked by a "prince" to give him the Shah Commission report, and the director had refused. The Shah Commission Report (1978), led by Justice J.C. Shah, investigated excesses during the Emergency. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said the member should authenticate the charge. Meanwhile, opposition members mounted a strong critique of the proposed law. TMC member Saket Gokhale argued that the Bill institutionalises a system where IPS officers would dominate leadership positions in CAPFs, undermining the career progression of cadre officers. "You are telling young officers to take bullets on the border, but not trusting them to lead their own forces," he said, calling it "the most humiliating experience" for personnel when juniors from another cadre are placed above them". Gokhale highlighted the harsh working conditions of CAPF personnel, noting that they spend most of the year in hostile terrains and temporary barracks, often with fewer facilities than their counterparts in other services. He alleged that the move would "systematically destroy the structure of forces" and enable greater political control over security institutions. NCP member Fauzia Khan termed the Bill "judicial evasion in the garb of law," accusing the government of overriding a Supreme Court verdict. She said the legislation would impose a "single central law" on diverse forces with distinct operational cultures, thereby weakening national security. Raising concerns over stalled promotions, she asked whether officers who spend years fighting insurgency on the ground would be sidelined in favour of deputed officers. She also demanded that the Bill be referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee and that wider consultations be held with CAPF personnel. The Bill seeks to provide a unified legal framework governing the administration, service conditions and operational coordination of CAPFs. At present, all CAPFs -- CRPF, CISF, BSF, ITBP and SSB -- have by their respective Acts which govern the recruitment and conditions of service for Group A General Duty Officers and other officers and members in the CAPFs. The Bill provides that to appoint officers from the Indian Police Service in CAPFs, 50 per cent of the posts will be filled by deputation in the rank of inspector general and a minimum of 67 per cent of the posts by deputation in the rank of additional director general. The proposed legislation comes after the Supreme Court, in October last year, dismissed the Centre's plea seeking a review of its 2025 verdict that directed that IPS officers' deputation in the CAPFs up to the level of Senior Administrative Grade (SAG) should be "progressively reduced" and asked for a cadre review to be carried out in six months. PTI AO RT

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