Staff crunch hits Delhi Police across all levels

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police is currently facing a substantial shortage of manpower, with as many as 9,248 posts lying vacant, accounting for nearly 10 per cent of its total sanctioned strength. This information was placed before Parliament by Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai during Question Hour earlier this week.

In response to a query by Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Prakash Chik Baraik, Rai informed the House that as of November 30, the Delhi Police had a working strength of 92,044 personnel, while 9,248 posts across various ranks remained unfilled. He clarified that such manpower gaps are part of a "dynamic process," as vacancies routinely arise due to retirements, promotions, and resignations.

As per details shared by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the vacancy breakdown is as follows:

• Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP): 13 are currently vacant out of 60 sanctioned posts.
• Additional DCP (JAG level): 15 positions remain unoccupied against an approved strength of 54.
• Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP): 125 posts are vacant out of a sanctioned strength of 346.
• Inspector: 108 are presently lying vacant out of 1,453 sanctioned positions.
• Sub-inspector: 1,039 posts are unfilled against a total sanctioned strength of 8,087.
• Assistant Sub-inspector: 300 of these posts are currently vacant out of a sanctioned strength of 7,320.
• Head Constable: 3,057 posts are vacant out of 23,724 sanctioned positions.
• Constable: 4,591 vacancies exist against an approved strength of 50,946 personnel.

Rai reiterated that vacancies in the police force arise regularly due to routine service-related factors such as superannuation, promotions to higher ranks and resignations. He added that recruitment is treated as an ongoing process by the government and that vacancies are periodically communicated to the relevant recruiting agencies.

The Minister further highlighted that appointments in the Delhi Police are made strictly in line with established recruitment norms to uphold transparency and ensure selection based on merit. Prospective candidates are inducted into the force only after successfully clearing all stages of the recruitment process, which includes written examinations to test knowledge and aptitude, physical efficiency and endurance assessments to meet fitness standards, and comprehensive medical examinations to verify overall health and suitability for service.

He also stated that the Ministry of Home Affairs remains actively involved in tackling the manpower deficit and maintains regular coordination with recruiting agencies to speed up the hiring process.