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Staff crunch plagues CBI

There is a shortage of 450 investigators
Last Updated 23 January 2014, 20:47 IST

It is the most-sought-after force across the country for probing crime, but the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is crippled by a shortage of around 450 investigators who would work on the ground collecting evidence and conducting probe.

As on January 1, the CBI has a sanctioned strength of 6,674, of which 878 posts in executive, law, technical, support and canteen departments lie vacant. The largest number of vacancies — 527 — is in the executive ranks, which have an allotted strength of 4,544.

In the senior ranks, there are two vacancies for special directors, one for joint director, 17 for deputy inspector generals, 33 for senior superintendents of police and superintendents of police, and for 18 additional superintendents of police. This adds up to 71.

However, the actual problem faced by the CBI is evident among the middle and
lower-level officer, who actually go to the field and conduct investigations.

There are a whopping 200 vacancies in the ranks of inspectors and 87 in sub-inspectors. The post of 32 deputy superintendents of police are also lying vacant now.

Adding to this are the vacancies in the constabulary -- 22 head constables and 92 constables. “These people are the backbone of the CBI. Their shortage means the existing force is stretched. It also means that some cases go to the backburner, at least for sometime,” said a senior CBI official.

The demand for CBI probes into different cases is increasing, but staff shortage has forced the agency to show disinclination in taking new cases. “We do take new cases. But the real issue is that our officers are stretched,” said the official.

Asserting that the investigation process is not hampered by vacancies, the official said filling vacancies is a continuous process and all efforts are made to fill the gap.
In the legal department too, there are 69 vacancies — majority in the post of public prosecutors (53).

There are four vacancies at the level of additional legal advisor, which has a sanctioned strength of seven. There is one vacancy each at the deputy legal advisor and senior public prosecutor-level.

Among the ministerial staff, the shortage is of 206, with stenographers topping the list at 112.

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(Published 23 January 2014, 20:47 IST)

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