By NewsGram Staff Writer

New Delhi: On Thursday, the Delhi HC instructed the Centre to consider the paramilitary forces including Central Reserve Police Force, Border Security Force and Indo-Tibetan Border Police, as "organised services."

A division bench consisting of Justice Kailash Gambhir and Justice Najmi Waziri said that group A officers of paramilitary forces should be treated as a part of "organised services" and be entitled to 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," said the plea.

The high court order will benefit about 10,000 officers, said senior advocate Rekha Palli, who was representing the officers.

(With inputs from IANS)