Maharashtra Cabinet Gives Nod To Hire 3000 Cops In Mumbai Police Force

The State Cabinet of Maharashtra gave a nod for hiring policemen in the Mumbai Police Team on a contract basis. Three thousand policemen will be hired. The Maharashtra State Security Corporation will take charge of the whole recruitment process. The hired policemen will then serve the nation for the next 11 months. 

In July, the proposal was accepted by the state cabinet due to the dire need for constables in the Mumbai Police Department. The state home department stated in a government resolution dated October 11 that hiring 3000 new employees for the Maharashtra Police Department will cost INR 8.35 crore per month and INR 100 crore annually. According to GR, the money will be paid under the contractual service head. 

It further says that the police force is allowed to deposit an advance of INR 29.58 crore by the home department. 

About 10,000 positions for drivers and constables are vacant out of the sanctioned strength of 40,623 constables in the police department.

As per the directive issued on July 27, it will take around two years for candidates to fill the 7076 constable positions, as they will need to complete training before joining the police. According to the ruling, the Mumbai police commissioner has the authority to hire 3000 constables from MSSC on an 11-month contract up till that point. 

Mumbai police needs more personnel to handle arrangements for festivals like Ganeshotsav, Navratri, Ramzan, Eid, Chhath Puja, Diwali and New Year's eve. In light of this, State Security Corporation employees would be hired by the Mumbai Police Force under contract. But this hiring will only last for 11 months, or until a permanent position is filled there. Once their term with the Mumbai Police Force ends, the jawans will return to their prior position with MSSC.

But the news of recruiting "contractual personnel" has alarmed the opposition in Maharashtra. The opposition claims that the "risky" action will harm both the public and the force.

Leader of the Opposition Ambadas Danve brought up the matter in the Monsoon Session arguing that the state government ought to be in charge of the police. In the House, he said, "It is risky and dangerous." Danve alluded to the Russian private military force's "rebellion against President Vladimir Putin" last month when he said that the addition of contractual police to the Mumbai police force may result in a situation similar to that of the "Wagner group."

On the other hand, in July 2023, Mumbai Police arrested around 40 people for cheating during the Police Recruitment Exam held in May this year. A senior official stated that Aurangabad, Dhule, and Jalna have emerged as the hubs from where the accused operated.

According to the police, a large number of the accused individuals used technology and equipment, including earbuds and SIM cards placed in devices that looked like debit cards. In order to write the answers that were read aloud to them during the exam, candidates would listen to calls through headphones while taking the test.

Five FIRs have been filed in all, one at each of the following locations: Bhandup, Dahisar, Goregaon, Meghwadi, and Kasturba Marg. According to police officials, among the implicated are trainers from training institutes as well as candidates and their families.

A mob of 30 people attacked the Dahisar investigative team. The mob was guarding two suspects. Two police officers were hurt and the suspects were freed by the mob.