38 per cent of CBI's legal posts vacant

NEW DELHI: A total of 778 posts in the country's premier investigative agency are lying vacant, with the highest being in the crucial legal section of CBI.

Out of the 237 posts sanctioned in the legal cell, a whooping 91 are lying vacant, statistics issued by the agency said.

The number of vacant posts is 38 per cent in the legal section this year, it was about 36 per cent in 2009 while in 2008 it was about 32.

The CBI has, however, been able to fill up vacancies to a large extent in other wings of the agency.

The total vacant posts in 2007 were 1,336 against a sanctioned strength of 5,959, which decreased to 1,086 against 5,960 in 2008.

The vacant posts further reduced to 719 in 2009 against a sanctioned strength of 5,961.

CBI sources said one of the biggest reason for filling up of vacancies in the agency was relaxation in recruitment rules allowing 77 vacancies at the level of Deputy Superintendent of Police to be filled up through promotion quota and not through deputation.