Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Oct 30: In a major boost to the city’s law enforcement machinery, the Maharashtra Home Department has approved a large-scale recruitment drive to fill 2,479 constable posts in the Mumbai Police, addressing the long-pending staff shortage that has persisted since the Covid-19 pandemic.

Joint Commissioner of Police (Administration) S. Jayakumar confirmed that the recruitment process aims to fill vacancies created due to retirements till December 2024. On average, around 1,500 constables retire every year, leading to a steady decline in manpower across the city’s police stations.

Applications for the new posts will remain open till November 30, and selected candidates are expected to join the force by the end of 2026, following completion of their training.

Due to the staffing crunch, Mumbai Police have been relying on personnel from the Maharashtra Security Force (MSF) for assistance. However, officials stated that a decision on when to phase out MSF support is yet to be finalized.

Sources in the BJP indicated that the state government has expedited recruitment and compassionate appointments — jobs offered to dependents of employees who died in service or retired on medical grounds — ahead of the upcoming local body elections, as part of efforts to improve employment figures and strengthen public services.

Currently, the Mumbai Police comprises nearly 52,000 personnel, including 42,000 constables, 7,000 officers, and 2,000 drivers, along with clerical and administrative staff.

Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Jail Department has also received approval to recruit 173 constables to fill acute staff shortages across key prisons in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, including Arthur Road, Byculla, Thane, Kalyan, and Taloja jails.

The recruitment initiative marks a significant step toward reinforcing Mumbai’s policing strength and ensuring smoother law and order management in the city.