The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has issued show-cause notices to eight Assistant Commandant-rank officers, including a woman officer, after they allegedly declined to attend an official working lunch hosted by a senior officer during a training programme in Madhya Pradesh.
The officers were undergoing the Gazetted Officers’ Tech Course at a CRPF training establishment when the incident took place. According to reports, a working lunch had been organised at the Gazetted Officers’ Mess as part of the programme, with a senior CRPF officer scheduled to interact with the trainees.
The absence of the eight officers from the lunch was subsequently viewed by the force as an act requiring formal explanation, with CRPF sources describing the conduct as insubordination.
An initial show-cause notice was reportedly issued on June 30, 2026, directing the officers to submit their explanations within three days of receiving the communication.
However, more than a month later, the force headquarters reportedly found that the replies had still not been received through the respective units of the officers. This prompted another internal communication marked “Most Urgent,” directing the concerned formations to ensure that the explanations were submitted without further delay.
According to media reports citing the internal communication, the officers were also informed that failure to provide their explanations could be interpreted as having “nothing to state in their defence.” In such a situation, the authorities could proceed with the matter on an ex-parte basis in accordance with applicable service rules.
The internal correspondence does not publicly disclose why the eight Assistant Commandants decided not to attend the working lunch. No statement explaining their absence has so far emerged from the officers concerned.
The CRPF has also not publicly confirmed whether any circumstances prevented the officers from participating in the event or whether they had sought exemption beforehand.
Officials familiar with the matter have indicated that any decision regarding further disciplinary proceedings would be taken only after examining the explanations submitted by the officers. The issuance of a show-cause notice itself does not amount to a final finding of misconduct and provides the personnel concerned an opportunity to present their version of events.
The episode has also attracted attention because of the broader debate surrounding administrative relationships between cadre officers of the Central Armed Police Forces and Indian Police Service officers serving in senior positions on deputation.
In recent years, sections of serving CAPF officers have raised concerns regarding career progression, command appointments and the representation of cadre officers in senior leadership positions. Related issues concerning the administrative structure of the forces have also reached the courts.
Against this background, the disciplinary issue involving the eight Assistant Commandants has generated discussion over whether absence from an official working lunch should warrant formal action and how such interactions form part of the command and administrative structure within a uniformed force.
The CRPF’s position, as reflected in reports citing official sources, is that the officers were expected to attend the scheduled official engagement and that their absence required an explanation.
As of early August 2026, the matter remained at the show-cause stage. No final disciplinary punishment against the eight officers had been officially confirmed.
The concerned officers retain the opportunity to submit their explanations before the competent authority, following which the CRPF is expected to determine whether the matter warrants closure or further proceedings under the applicable service and disciplinary rules.
