Central Reserve Police Force

The Central Reserve Police Force, or CRPF, is an armed force maintained by the Central Government to assist in protecting public peace and internal security. Its legal foundation and members' general duties are prescribed by the Central Reserve Police Force Act, 1949. Its mandate combines lawful obedience to competent authorities with intelligence gathering, prevention of offences and apprehension of offenders.

Statutory foundation

The Central Reserve Police Force Act, 1949 provides for the constitution and regulation of the Force. Under Section 3, the Central Government maintains the CRPF as an armed force; under Section 8, its superintendence, control and administration vest in the Central Government.

Core duties under the Act

The general duties listed in Section 7 constitute the core statutory mandate of every CRPF member.

• Members must promptly obey and execute orders and warrants lawfully issued by a competent authority.
• They must collect and communicate intelligence affecting public peace.
• They must prevent offences and public nuisances, detect offenders and bring them to justice.
• They must apprehend persons whom they are legally authorised to apprehend when sufficient grounds exist.

Constitutional and operational setting

Public order and police ordinarily fall within the State sphere under State List Entries 1 and 2. However, Union List Entry 2A enables Parliament to regulate the deployment of Union-controlled forces in a State in aid of the civil power.

• The CRPF assists civil authorities in maintaining public order and internal security rather than permanently replacing the State police.
• Its deployments may include riot control, counter-insurgency, Left Wing Extremism operations, election security and protection of vital installations.
• These operational roles flow from its broad statutory duties, lawful governmental directions and deployment in aid of civil power.