New Delhi: Citing a large number of cases for probe coupled with acute manpower shortage, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) director Anil Sinha has demanded more personnel from states on deputation to the agency, saying if this is not done, the agency would collapse.

Appearing before a parliamentary committee, Sinha cited the increase in the number of cases referred to CBI by the Supreme Court and high courts, and said the agency’s capacity for investigation was around 700 cases a year which has now almost doubled, necessitating more officers to supervise probes.

As per the submission made by the agency, a total of 1,200 cases and “62 foreign investigations" were pending. Of the total pending cases, 31 are pending for over three years.

A total of 1,531 posts were vacant in CBI as against its sanctioned strength of 7,274, as per the agency’s latest data. Following the submission, the panel has asked the government to complete cadre review in the agency by June-end.

While deposing before the committee, the CBI director proposed to provide longer tenure to officers on deputation in the agency from the state and other central forces in addition to other steps taken to manage vacancies, said the report of the parliamentary standing committee on personnel, public grievances, law and justice, tabled in Parliament on Tuesday.

“He, therefore, expressed that unless state governments provide the manpower by way of sending more of their personnel on deputation to the CBI, a time could come that CBI would collapse and fail," it said.

The committee expressed deep concern on the state of affairs relating to the vacant positions in CBI.

“It, therefore, impresses upon the department of personnel and training to complete the exercise of cadre review by June 30, 2016, as per the direction of the Supreme Court to deal with the vacancies in the establishment," the report said.

“The committee is apprehensive that unless the present malady of massive vacancy is corrected immediately, the very purpose of establishment of the CBI would be eroded and its credibility tarnished," the report said.

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