New Delhi,
Massive shortage of officers at the CBI may hamper quality of investigations and increase pendency, a Parliamentary panel said on Friday, asking the government to initiate necessary action to fill the posts.
Asserting that fraudsters are using increasingly innovative methods to bypass vigilance, it also asked probity watchdog Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) to improve vigilance administration by leveraging latest technologies.
On the infrastructure deficit being grappled by the CBI, the panel said shortfall in allocation of Rs 802 crore against the projection of over Rs 1,300 crore will “adversely affect” the agency’s ability to invest in training, research, equipment and other support structures.
In a report tabled in the RajyaSabha, the panel headed by BJP MP BhupenderYadav observed that 789 posts in executive ranks, 77 posts of law officers and 415 posts of technical officers and staff were lying vacant.
The report said “this leads to an inevitable conclusion that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is facing a massive shortage of personnel”.
“The Committee thinks that it may increase pendency, hamper the quality of investigations and ultimately reduce the effectiveness and efficiency of the agency. The Committee therefore recommends that necessary action may be initiated to fulfil the large number of vacant posts in CBI on urgent basis,” it said.
The Department-Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice said the CBI has received an allocation of just Rs 802 crore against the projection of 1,386 crore made to the Ministry of Finance. “This shortfall in allocation will adversely affect CBI’s ability to invest in training, research, equipment and other support structures. The Committee is of the view that funds constraint should not impede CBI from discharging its mandate effectively and accordingly recommends the government to provide adequate funds for meeting the growing needs of the country’s premier investigating agency,” it said. ( PTI )
