The Haryana police force is grappling with a significant manpower crisis, with a staggering 23,189 vacancies across various uniformed ranks and an additional 2,442 posts lying empty in clerical staff. This critical information was laid bare before the Haryana Legislative Assembly on Monday, the final day of its session.
Assembly Exposes Scale of Police Vacancies
The data was presented in response to a pointed query raised by Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) MLA Arjun Chautala during the Question Hour. According to an official annexure provided by the Haryana Police department, out of a total sanctioned strength of 84,765 posts (79,063 uniformed and 5,702 non-uniformed), a massive 25,631 positions remain unfilled.
The reply detailed a worrying shortfall across all key ranks, painting a picture of a force stretched thin. The constabulary, which forms the backbone of ground-level policing, is the worst affected.
Rank-Wise Breakdown of the Deficit
The police data provided a clear, rank-wise vacancy list that underscores the depth of the problem:
- Constable: The force faces a deficit of 13,948 personnel against a sanctioned strength of 51,059.
- Head Constable: There is a shortage of 6,872 against 13,597 sanctioned posts.
- Sub-Inspector: A shortfall of 1,051 exists against 4,953 posts.
- Assistant Sub-Inspector: 1,106 posts are vacant out of 7,788.
- Inspector: The department needs 142 more inspectors against 1,309 sanctioned.
- DSP: There is a shortage of 70 Deputy Superintendents of Police against 357 posts.
Recruitment Drives and Stop-Gap Measures
In its reply, the police department informed the Assembly that the state government has granted permission to fill 7,310 categories of these vacant posts. The recruitment process for these positions has already been initiated through the Haryana Staff Selection Commission (HSSC) and the Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC).
Furthermore, proposals to fill an additional 2,908 posts across various categories and ranks are currently under process with the government. To bridge the immediate gap in maintaining law and order, the police have engaged 11,052 Special Police Officers (SPOs) and 10,196 Home Guard volunteers to assist the regular force.
The revelation in the Assembly highlights the operational challenges faced by the Haryana Police due to chronic understaffing. While recruitment processes are underway, the substantial vacancies, especially at the constable level, point to a pressing need for accelerated hiring to ensure effective policing across the state.
