Kolkata Police is preparing to recruit 1,700 retired Army personnel on a contractual basis to address a shortage of constables across police stations, the detective department and other units, with the recruits potentially joining before the puja season.
The recruitment process is in its final stage, according to the report citing Lalbazar, the headquarters of Kolkata Police. The force has decided to deploy the former service personnel for puja duty if they join before the festival period.
A police officer said the first phase will include 1,700 retired Army personnel, with the number expected to rise later. Applicants must be no more than 45 years old and must be residents of West Bengal, according to the police. The appointments will be made on a contractual basis as constables.
The move follows what the report describes as a prolonged shortage of personnel at the lower levels of Kolkata Police. The vacancy pressure is affecting routine police station work, investigations and surveillance, with the shortage reported to be most severe in the constable ranks.
Lalbazar’s stated rationale is that former Army personnel already have military training and therefore would not require fresh physical training. The police also cited their experience with discipline and firearms, saying they could be deployed across units ranging from police stations to other departments.
The proposed recruitment is not the first time Kolkata Police has turned to former military personnel to supplement its workforce. Retired service personnel were recruited by the force more than a decade ago, but that arrangement was later discontinued.
The immediate operational test will be the deployment of the recruits during the puja period, when Kolkata Police faces additional responsibilities related to crowd management, traffic regulation, public safety and surveillance. The report does not specify the duration of the contracts, remuneration, deployment numbers by unit or the formal selection and training process.
The recruitment plan also highlights the administrative consequences of prolonged gaps in regular police hiring. Constables form the field-level workforce responsible for much of the daily contact between the police and the city, including station duties, patrols, security arrangements and support for investigations. The next steps are the completion of the contractual recruitment process and the proposed joining of the former Army personnel before the puja season.