In Brief
The Supreme Court dismissed appeals by the Union of India challenging High Court orders granting Railway Protection Force (RPF) officers and Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) officers the status of Organized Group A Services and associated benefits. The Court held that DoPT's 2003 'in principle' decision to constitute RPF as an organized service, coupled with years of inaction despite prepared draft rules, justified the High Court's mandamus directing completion within a time frame. The Court further held that CAPFs have been consistently classified as Group A Services in official monographs since 1986 and are entitled to non-functional financial upgradation benefits, despite not meeting all prescribed attributes, as such attributes allow for minor deviations in evolved services.
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