Sivagangai: In Tamil Nadu, 1,026 Sub-Inspectors (SIs) have been waiting for over 13 years for a promotion, while 160 inspector posts remain vacant, causing increased pressure on existing personnel.

The Tamil Nadu police force, consisting of approximately 1.75 lakh members from various ranks, relies heavily on inspectors for maintaining law and order, handling serious cases, and prosecuting crimes punishable by over seven years.

The shortage of inspectors, with more than 160 posts currently unfilled, has led to an uneven distribution of work, with some inspectors managing two or three stations.

The delay in promotions is causing frustration among SIs who were recruited in 2011 and are uncertain about their future advancement.

A police officer highlighted that promotions in other government sectors typically occur within 5 to 7 years, but in the police department, it has become an unusually prolonged process.

Currently, 423 police stations are without an inspector, exacerbating the workload of the existing staff. The situation, attributed to the indifference of authorities, calls for urgent government intervention.

The officer emphasized that the government should prioritize filling inspector posts and promoting SIs, rather than focusing solely on financial considerations.