The Delhi High Court on Thursday directed the central government to consider all paramilitary forces, including the Central Reserve Police Force, Border Security Force, Sashastra Seema Bal and Indo-Tibetan Border Police, as "organised services".
A division bench of Justice Kailash Gambhir and Justice Najmi Waziri said group A officers of paramilitary forces should be treated as "organised services" and thus be given all benefits including non-functional financial upgradation (NFU) from 2006.
The court allowed the pleas filed by more than 200 serving and retired officers of the paramilitary forces seeking the court's direction for grant of NFU to them alleging the deprivation of the financial benefit is "affecting the morale and efficiency of the officers".
They had sought direction for central government to treat them as "organised cadre" and grant them the NFU benefits.
"NFU is given to all other group cadre 'A' organised services but these officers were denied saying they have not been accorded organised service status," the plea had said.
The high court order will benefit about 10,000 officers, said senior advocate Rekha Palli representing the officers.
The officers plea said that though they are the members of armed forces of union and employed on very sensitive duties like guarding of borders, maintaining internal security, fighting terrorism and left wing extremism and involved in disaster management etc., yet they are not being given their due with respect to the status as well as financial benefits.
The plea also said that the officers from paramilitary forces are facing stagnation not only because of lack of adequate promotional posts but also because a majority of the higher posts in the hierarchy had been filled up by deputations by officers from the Indian Police Service and the government has failed to take adequate steps for career progression of the cadre officers.
The officers said "undertaking these policy measures will ensure pay parity and social recognition as they would get timely promotions".
With IANS