Supreme Court Warns of Article 142 Intervention if CRPF Personnel Housing Crisis Not Resolved

Last Updated on March 12, 2025 by Amit Patra

In a landmark ruling that has the potential to reshape accommodation policies for paramilitary troops, the Supreme Court has placed the Union government on notice to respond to the dearth of rental accommodations that Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) troops on temporary deployment in Delhi are facing, or face judicial intervention under Article 142 of the Constitution.

The division bench of Justices AS Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan, considering the appeal of the Union against a Delhi High Court ruling, posed the crucial question as “Whether CRPF personnel who are being posted in Delhi for a short period of 2-3 years will be in a position to find a reasonable accommodation on rental basis within the constraints of HRA which is being granted to them.”

The case arose from the appeal of a Delhi High Court order that overturned CRPF February 17, 2005, and April 28, 2017, orders that limited General Pool Residential Accommodation (GPRA) to staff who work in headquarters only. Nine CRPF officers had succeeded in overruling these restrictive orders in the High Court.

Following the interrogation of affidavits that proved government accommodations could not be made available to the personnel, the Court asked the Union to prepare a proper solution subject to judicial intervention in case of its failure. “Unless this issue is resolved within a reasonable time period, this Court will have to consider invoking its jurisdiction under Article 142 of the Constitution of India by making necessary orders,” the order stated.

Delhi High Court has already ordered that all CRPF officers of Delhi who fall under the scope of a 1969 Office Memorandum become entitled to GPRA and dismissed the government’s argument that the said officers are not qualified under Rule 4(b) of CGPRA Rules, 2017.

The High Court had pointed out that the actual issue seemed to be accommodation shortage and concern about officers keeping allotments at the time of transfers, but not demands for eligibility. It had reiterated that it was up to the government to see to it that allotments were managed appropriately and relinquished in good time.

The Supreme Court has fixed the next hearing for April 7, by which time the government is expected to have a solution to the housing crisis.