West Bengal: Suvendu Adhikari announces 10,544 new police vacancies
The Chief Minister promised large-scale appointments in the police, fire services and forest departments over the next six months.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said on Saturday that recruitment notifications for 10,544 new police vacancies would be issued soon. According to The Times of India, these vacancies are in addition to the ongoing recruitment of 27,556 personnel.
Speaking at the Kolkata Police headquarters in Lalbazar, Adhikari handed over appointment letters to 309 newly recruited sub-inspectors. He noted that 11,902 candidates had been selected against the 27,556 advertised posts, with 6,345 of those earmarked for women.
Adhikari stated that more than 1,100 candidates for sub-inspector and assistant sub-inspector posts would receive appointment letters in December and January. Additionally, over 4,000 candidates would be appointed as constables in the Kolkata Police.
The Chief Minister attributed delays in filling approximately 46,000 sanctioned vacancies to legal complications following a 2024 Calcutta High Court judgment regarding the OBC list. He said the state government has since amended the OBC law and withdrawn its case from the Supreme Court to clear the way for recruitment.
Adhikari alleged the previous regime neglected the police force, leaving them lagging in infrastructure, logistics, professionalism and training. He said the state has signed an MoU with the Assam Police Training Centre to improve training and will write to the Centre to set up new India Reserve Battalions in Bengal.
Recruitment will be conducted through the Police Recruitment Board. Adhikari said the process would be transparent and based on merit in accordance with recruitment rules.