Staffing crisis: Goa police work with 12% personnel shortage

Panaji: Goa police is facing a shortage of 12% of police personnel from the rank of additional director general of police, superintendent of police (SP), deputy superintendent of police (dySP), police inspectors (PIs), police sub-inspectors (PSIs), and police constables, among others. Similarly, there is a 7% shortage of police personnel in the Indian Reserve Battalion (IRBn).

The total sanctioned strength of Goa police as of June is 7,871, and there is a shortage of 1,012 personnel. Similarly, the total sanctioned strength of the Indian Reserve Battalion is 3,021, and there is a shortage of 230 personnel at various levels.

On the filling the 10 vacancies of SP posts, chief minister Pramod Sawant said there are presently no eligible officers in the feeder grade for promotion, but on the availability of eligible officers, they will be promoted.

On filling 38 vacancies of dySP, Sawant said the matter is presently under examination. Similarly, on filling 216 PSI posts, Sawant said that for direct recruitment, 197 vacancies, 187 (157 male and 30 female) vacancies have been advertised by the Goa staff selection commission (SSC) on May 2. The remaining 10 vacancies will be uploaded on the SSC website in Jan.

On the filling 316 police constable posts, Sawant said that a proposal to fill up 195 vacancies has been uploaded on the SSC website on Jan 31, 2024. Another proposal to fill up 93 vacancies has also been uploaded on the commission website. The remaining vacancies will be uploaded Jan next year.

Sawant said that eight vacancies will shortly be filled by the absorption of home guard volunteers.

TOI has earlier reported that nearly 90% of police stations in Goa are facing a shortage of police personnel, and this could hamper investigations in criminal cases. There are 46 police stations across the state, and only six have more personnel than the sanctioned strength. Of the 14 police stations in North Goa, Porvorim, Bicholim, Colvale, and Mopa have more personnel than sanctioned. In South Goa, of 18 police stations, only the Mardol station has more personnel than sanctioned.

Of 14 specialised police stations, only the cyber crime police station has more personnel than sanctioned.

The high court of Bombay at Goa took suo motu cognisance of TOI’s article, headlined ‘Almost 90% police stations in Goa facing staff shortage’, stating that the issue is of “great importance”. A division bench comprising justices Bharati Dangre and Nivedita Mehta stated that it agrees with TOI’s reporting that this would have a direct impact on the progress of investigations of various crimes registered in police stations.