The High Court of Gujarat is seeking accountability from the state government over almost 30,000 vacancies in the police force.

Taking a firm stance, the high court has demanded a personal affidavit from the Home Secretary of Gujarat. This action comes in response to the state government’s failure to fill more than 28,000 police vacancies despite the Union government’s instructions.

Gujarat was short of 28,993 police personnel as on March 31, a wider gap than the 27,269 from a year ago. The state's current police-to-population ratio stands at 127.82 per lakh, significantly lower than the Centre's recommended 174.39 per lakh. This shortage leaves Gujarat with only 77,182 police personnel instead of the required 1,05,303.

While the Union Home Ministry emphasizes that states are in charge of their own police forces under the Constitution, it also regularly advises states to implement necessary reforms and fill vacancies promptly. However, Gujarat's recruitment process, which follows a five-year plan, has led to significant delays.

In 2022, the state announced plans to recruit 12,000 police personnel. This process, initiated before the 2022 Gujarat Assembly elections, is expected to continue until 2025, leaving a substantial gap in law enforcement resources.

Taking suo motu action, the High Court—led by Chief Justice Sunita Aggarwal and Justice Pranav Trivedi—has given the state government a final opportunity to address these vacancies. Failure to comply may result in adverse action by the court.

This situation highlights the need for more efficient recruitment processes and better alignment with Union government advisories to ensure adequate police staffing in Gujarat.