Government opposes Tribunal’s order to extend NFFU to central armed forces

NEW DELHI: The central government on Tuesday opposed in the Supreme Court an Armed Forces’ Tribunal order asking it to extend non-functional financial upgradation (NFFU) to the central armed forces of the country.

The para-military forces have already been granted this benefit by the top court.

The NFFU was introduced from January 1, 2006, under the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations to offset financial loss faced by other central government services for lack of promotional avenues in comparison to the IAS. Over the years it has been extended to 53 group A services.


It has also been extended to IPS and IFS officers under the government’s orders. Under the scheme those who lose out on promotions are knocked up to the next pay grade to financially compensate. The top court had on February 5, 2019, upheld a Delhi High Court decision to grant NFFU to central armed police forces such as CRPF and BSF.

But the armed forces are yet to get the benefit. This resulted in a situation in which civil officers junior to armed forces officers get higher pay grades.

The Seventh Pay Commission had urged the government to either do away with it or extend it to the armed forces. This created an anomalous situation in as much as defence officers on deputation to the ministry got less than their civilian counterparts.

The situation was worse in insurgency-affected areas where CAPF forces, functioning operationally under command of the armed forces, have higher pay grades.