CBI facing shortage of 1,043 officers

The CBI, which is probing high-profile corruption cases in the country, is facing an acute shortage of “specialised” manpower in key technical areas that are crucial to its functioning.

Even though the investigating agency maintains that these are not serious hurdles in its day-to-day functioning, the CBI is, in fact, facing a shortage of 1,043 officials in the “executive ranks”. Besides, crucial posts such as senior advisers in engineering, banking, taxation, foreign trade/foreign exchange and insurance have also been lying vacant for the last several months. Sources said that all five deputy-adviser (engineering) posts are also lying vacant. As far as vacancies in the executive ranks are concerned, the agency requires 35 superintendents of police (SPs) and more than 253 inspectors, sources said. “Out of the total 5,000 sanctioned posts at executive officer level, around 3,957 have been filled till 1 April, 2016. The shortage of qualified manpower is certainly affecting the agency’s ongoing probes. At present, the agency is bound to investigate cases referred to them by the Supreme Court, high courts and the CVC, in addition to cases which they are already probing. The agency requires additional qualified manpower for qualitative investigations,” sources said.

Sources added that “the CBI is in the process of filling up certain posts, including foreign trade, technical, insurance etc. We want experts with high professionalism and competence for these specialised posts. These posts are likely to be filled up in due course”. As far as vacancies in the executive ranks are concerned, the agency requires an additional 17 DIGs. Among the 1,043 vacancies, 211 are at the sub-inspector level.

The agency also requires 385 constables and 24 head constables.

“A shortage of 60 public prosecutors are also affecting the CBI’s day to day work. The agency also urgently needs 34 assistant public prosecutors,” sources said.