New Delhi, April 2 A bill to create a unified legal framework governing personnel across different Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), replacing the current patchwork of separate service-rule regimes for the five central forces, was approved by Parliament on Thursday.
Several opposition members said the bill should be referred to a joint committee of Parliament for thorough scrutiny and consultations with stakeholders. They said that personnel and officers should be consulted before a new legal framework is introduced.
They said that if the government had understood the grievances of the personnel and officers of the CAPFs, a better law would have been in place long ago.
The bill, passed by the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, was approved by the Lok Sabha by a voice vote.
Separately, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that the government is bent on legally perpetuating the injustice of discrimination against CAPF jawans through the bill and asserted that his party will repeal such a "discriminatory law" when it comes to power.
The leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha said that he wanted to speak on the bill in the House and had requested the government to make adjustments as he was visiting Assam, but it refused as it "does not want me to speak on this in Parliament".
Congress MP Manickam Tagore said that due to the absence of Home Minister Amit Shah during the debate on the CAPF Bill, the opposition staged a walkout in the Lok Sabha in protest.
An amendment moved by Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra to refer the bill to a select committee of the Lok Sabha was also negated by a voice vote.
Responding to the debate, Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said that the opposition is confused about the measure and is, in turn, confusing people.
He said that the multiplicity of rules for different central forces was a hurdle in their smooth functioning and the new law will take care of such issues.
He asserted that the legislation is beneficial for all sections of central forces.
The Union minister also underlined that sufficient housing and healthcare facilities are available for the CAPF personnel.
The Central Armed Police Forces (General Administration) Bill 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.
