Telangana High Court Intervenes in Police Staffing Crisis
The Telangana High Court has taken decisive action to address the critical shortage of personnel in the state police force, directing the government to submit a comprehensive time-bound plan for filling more than 14,000 vacant positions. This significant development came during a hearing on Thursday, November 27, 2025, where the court expressed concern over the mounting vacancies affecting law enforcement capabilities.
The Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice G M Mohiuddin, issued the directive while hearing a public interest litigation filed by Keethineedi Akhil Guruteja of Help The People Charitable Trust. The court specifically ordered the state government, Telangana State Level Police Recruitment Board (TSLPRB), and Telangana Public Service Commission (TGPSC) to provide a detailed report outlining current vacancies and a concrete recruitment timeline.
Shocking Numbers Revealed in Court Proceedings
During the proceedings, Advocate Barkat Ali Khan, representing the petitioner, revealed staggering statistics about the staffing crisis. The total number of vacant sanctioned posts has accumulated to 14,935 positions across the Telangana Police department. This includes 11,713 Constable posts and 739 Sub-Inspector positions, creating substantial gaps in the state's law enforcement infrastructure.
Khan argued compellingly that this severe shortage places enormous additional pressure on the existing police workforce. The consequences are far-reaching, affecting essential law and order duties, delaying criminal investigations, and ultimately compromising public safety across the state. The advocate emphasized that the current situation directly contradicts the Supreme Court's 2019 directives in the 'Manish Kumar vs. Union of India' case.
Historical Context and Legal Precedents
The court proceedings uncovered that the Registry had failed to file a report verifying whether a suo motu PIL had been initiated following the Supreme Court's landmark 2019 judgment. Advocate Khan subsequently presented evidence that such a case had indeed been taken earlier, submitting the judgment dated April 22, 2022, in WP (PIL) No. 45 of 2019 to the bench.
Khan pointed out that while general suo motu proceedings had been complied with, the specific issue of police appointments highlighted in the 'Manish Kumar vs. Union of India' case remained unaddressed. The Supreme Court had explicitly instructed the state to initiate steps for filling vacant posts in police and state Armed Forces to prevent overburdening of existing personnel and to establish regular monitoring mechanisms.
Through an interlocutory application, Khan sought immediate directions concerning current vacancies as of the filing date, the proposed recruitment strategy, and clear timelines for completing the hiring process. The court accepted this request and mandated the concerned authorities to provide a comprehensive report addressing all these aspects.
Court's Directive and Future Proceedings
The Telangana High Court has given clear instructions to the state government, Director General of Police, TSLPRB, and TGPSC to file a detailed report that includes:
- Current vacancy statistics as of the filing date
- A proposed recruitment plan with specific measures
- Clear timelines for completing the entire recruitment process
The case has been scheduled for further hearing on December 29, when the court will review the submitted reports and assess the government's commitment to addressing this critical issue. This judicial intervention comes as a significant step toward strengthening the state's law enforcement capabilities and ensuring better public safety through adequate police staffing.
The court's proactive stance underscores the urgency of resolving the police staffing crisis, which has been lingering despite previous judicial interventions. The December 29 hearing is expected to be crucial in determining whether the state government can demonstrate substantial progress in tackling this long-standing problem that directly impacts the effectiveness of policing and public security in Telangana.
