Advocate Files PIL in Orissa High Court Over Police Stress and Vacancies
In Cuttack, advocate Shivsankar Mohanty has raised significant concerns regarding the escalating stress levels and severe manpower shortages within the Odisha police force. He has filed a fresh public interest litigation (PIL) in the Orissa High Court, urgently seeking judicial intervention to tackle mental health issues among police personnel.
Petition Details and Urgent Demands
Mohanty submitted the petition on April 6, urging the court to direct the director-general of police (DGP) to implement immediate and effective measures. These measures aim to address cases of depression, workplace stress, and the overall mental well-being of the force. Additionally, the petition calls for filling large-scale vacancies, arguing that staff shortages are a primary contributor to excessive workloads and institutional stress.
However, the PIL has not yet been listed for a hearing, leaving the matter pending before the court.
Recent Incidents Highlighting the Crisis
To underscore the gravity of the situation, Mohanty cited several recent incidents. These include the mysterious death of a jail warden at Jharpada jail in Bhubaneswar on March 6, 2026, the alleged suicide of a constable at Nayagarh reserve police campus on February 5, 2026, and the resignation of a woman havildar in Angul on April 4, 2026, reportedly due to prolonged workplace pressure.
Manpower Gap Statistics
The petition provides detailed statistics on the manpower gap within the Odisha police force. According to the data, the civil police strength stands at 25,766 against a sanctioned strength of 35,024, while the armed reserve has 9,423 personnel against 10,579 sanctioned posts. Furthermore, there are 1,634 vacant sub-inspector posts and 6,218 constable vacancies, exacerbating the workload and stress on existing staff.
This comprehensive filing aims to prompt swift action to safeguard the mental health and operational efficiency of the police force in Odisha.
