Karnataka's Police Force Faces Critical Shortage: Over 10,000 Constable Posts Lie Vacant

Karnataka's law enforcement apparatus is grappling with a significant manpower crisis, as revealed by Home Minister G Parameshwara. A staggering 10,234 police constable positions across the state are currently vacant, painting a concerning picture for public safety and the operational efficiency of the force.

The Home Minister, addressing a question raised by BJP MLC N Ravikumar in the Legislative Council, provided a detailed breakdown of the vacancies.

The civil police wing, crucial for maintaining general law and order, accounts for 8,819 of these empty slots. Meanwhile, the armed police, responsible for more specialized security tasks and rapid response, is short of 1,415 constables. This dual deficit highlights a widespread issue impacting various facets of policing.

Parameshwara attributed this substantial shortage to a confluence of factors, including the natural attrition through retirements, the advancement of personnel through promotions, and the creation of new posts that have yet to be filled.

These ongoing dynamics mean that the recruitment process is a continuous race against time to maintain adequate staffing levels.

Recognizing the urgency of the situation, the state government has outlined a clear strategy to address the deficit. For the current financial year (2023-24), the administration aims to recruit approximately 5,000 constables.

As a testament to this commitment, applications are already being processed for 3,500 constable positions, signaling an active push to bolster the force.

The manpower shortage isn't confined solely to the constable ranks. The Home Minister also informed the council that 1,304 sub-inspector posts are vacant, with recruitment efforts currently underway to fill 402 of these crucial supervisory roles.

This suggests a systemic challenge in staffing across different levels of the police hierarchy.

Despite the existing vacancies, Parameshwara assured the Legislative Council of the government's unwavering dedication to strengthening the police department. He emphasized that while the police-to-population ratio is a critical metric, the immediate focus is on actively filling all vacant posts to enhance the force's capacity and ensure effective law enforcement throughout the state.

Furthermore, plans are in motion to acquire new vehicles for the police department, demonstrating a holistic approach to modernization and operational improvement.