Over 1,650 vacant posts in CBI: Rajya Sabha told

New Delhi, Feb 25: More than 1,650 posts are vacant at different levels in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) which is probing sensitive cases like Vyapam and ponzi scams, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said on Thursday, Feb 25.

The various constitutional courts have been from time to time handing over cases to CBI for investigation. In some instances CBI has informed the courts, including the Supreme Court, that it is unable to take up cases for investigation on account of shortage of manpower, he said.

As on February 2, 2016, the sanctioned strength of personnel in CBI was 7274 and the number of vacancies 1,656, the minister said in a written reply in Rajya Sabha. In another reply, Singh said the quality of investigation is neither affected due to scarcity of human resources nor due to the absence of dedicated service.

"The human resource scarcity, however, can contribute to delay in completion of investigations and other resultant actions," he said.

The occurrence of vacancies and their filling up are an ongoing process. The number keeps on varying depending on the induction, promotion, retirement and repatriation of the officers, the minister said.

"It is the endeavour of the government as well as CBI to fill up the vacant posts expeditiously. Recently to look after the Vyapam scam cases and the chit fund (ponzi) scam cases, the central government has sanctioned 598 new posts for CBI," said Singh, Minister of State for Personnel -- which acts as the nodal department for the probe agency.

The central government has taken various steps, including giving approval to a CBI's proposal regarding relaxation in eligibility criteria for promotion of 149 Sub Inspectors to Inspectors, he said. CBI has been exempted from consultation with Union Public Service Commission for recruitment to the post of Deputy Superintendents of Police for a period of three years.

Director Generals of Central Armed Police Forces and Chief Secretaries of state governments have been requested by CBI to spare officers of requisite seniority to join the agency and deputation basis, said Singh.

PTI