CRPF Denies Recognizing Assistant Commandants as ‘Key Pillars’, Sparks Discontent Among Ground Commanders

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has denied recognizing its Assistant Commandants as the “key pillars” of the force in a response filed before the Delhi High Court, leading to significant discontent among ground commanders.

In its statement, CRPF stated that the role of Assistant Commandants is supervisory, and the force’s backbone and key pillars are the ranks from constables to inspectors. The force emphasized that while ground officers lead operations, cadre officers are responsible for overseeing these ranks.

This response has shocked many Assistant Commandants who have been in the same position for over 15 years and have not received their first promotion. Several of these officers have approached the courts for resolution, but so far, no solid solution has been found. They argue that they play a crucial role in anti-terrorism operations, Naxal counterinsurgency efforts, and other security missions, where they not only supervise but also lead their teams on the front lines.

In this case, Assistant Commandant Prajeet Singh and other officers filed a petition in the Delhi High Court, demanding that they receive similar promotions and financial benefits as officers in other Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs). They called for improvements in the promotion process to ensure transparency and timely career progression. However, the CRPF has stated that promotions for cadre officers are based on vacancies, and these officers have already received senior time scale benefits after four years of service.

This issue is likely to increase dissatisfaction within the CRPF, as the officers feel their sacrifices and leadership on the ground are being undervalued. The department’s stance could potentially weaken the morale of ground commanders, as it seems to negate their contribution and service.