CRPF officers move Delhi HC on salary, service grievances

A bench of justices Pradeep Nandrajog and Manmohan Singh have issued separate notices to the Union Home Ministry, the Department of Personnel and Training and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) headquarters seeking their response on the petition of these officers who are in the ranks of Commandants, Deputy Commandants and Second-in-command.

The step by the CRPF officers comes days after a similar petition was moved by the officers of the BSF, with both the forces claiming that non-implementation of policy measures is affecting their "morale and efficiency".

Both the CRPF and BSF are country's largest paramilitary forces and not only guard strategic Indian frontiers but are also deployed for a variety of internal security duties like tackling Left Wing Extremism (LWE).

The CRPF officers have requested the court to issue directions to the authorities to "extend the benefit of non-functional upgradation to the CRPF general cadre group A officers...".

They have also prayed the court to categories them as members of an "organised cadre" which will ensure promotion and other service related benefits to them.

"..There is an acute stagnation in the cadre of Group A officers of CRPF and this is effecting the morale and efficiency of the officers dedicating their life to the service of the nation at various sensitive areas in the performance of most important duties of internal security of country that too when they are subjected to inhuman living conditions and in absence of even basic facilities away from their families," the petition stated.

The CRPF officers, in their writ petition, state that undertaking these policy measures will ensure pay parity and social recognition as they would get timely promotions.