SC, HCs refer cases for CBI probe without manpower: Govt

The Supreme Court and High Courts are handing over a large number of sensitive cases to the CBI for investigation without additional manpower, the government said today to highlight acute staff crunch grappling the agency.
The Department of Personnel and Training, which acts as nodal authority for Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), has asked all states to send officers to fill large vacancies in the agency.
The CBI is facing acute shortage of manpower in the rank of Constable, Head Constable, Inspector and Superintendent of Police. To fill up these vacancies, the agency has requested all state governments several times to send the names of willing officials or officers to join CBI on deputation basis to ensure effective investigation of cases, a communique from DoPT said.

The problem is especially acute in the wake of the Supreme Court and High Courts handing over a large number of sensitive cases to the CBI for investigation without any additional manpower, it said.
In a related development, a Parliamentary committee had late last year criticised judicial activism of Supreme and higher courts by overseeing investigation and passing interim directions to CBI saying it may appear to be a colourable exercise of power by them.
Recently, the government has also sanctioned 598 new posts for CBI for investigation into Vyapam scam and chit fund or ponzi scam cases. However, these posts have not been filled up so far, the DoPT said.

It cited a verdict of the apex court which had directed that steps be taken to fill up the existing vacancies expeditiously.
"It is once again requested that all state governments may kindly send the names of willing officials or officers at the earliest to CBI to fill their vacant posts on deputation basis in the rank of Constable, Head Constable, Inspector and Superintendent of Police," the DoPT said.