-1764850833980_v.webp)
- By Kamakshi Bishnoi
- Sun, 07 Dec 2025 05:40 PM (IST)
- Source:Jagran News Network
The Jharkhand Excise and Prohibition Department is grappling with a severe manpower crisis, hampering its ability to conduct raids and take effective action against the illegal liquor trade. Due to the absence of an independent force, the department is compelled to rely on Home Guards during operations, leaving teams vulnerable to attacks.
Officials said the department currently operates with barely one-tenth of its sanctioned strength. Against 20 sanctioned posts of Superintendent of Excise, only three officers are in position. Similarly, only 29 personnel are deployed against 622 sanctioned posts of Excise Constables. Out of a total sanctioned strength of 1,070, merely 169 posts are filled.
The shortage of personnel is proving dangerous during field operations. In a recent incident in the Horhap forest area under the Tatisilwai police station in Ranchi, a raid team was targeted by local illicit liquor traders while dismantling illegal distilleries.
The attackers, numbering over 20, broke the windows of the department vehicle and injured team members. To block their escape, the liquor mafia felled trees and obstructed the road. The team had only four Home Guards for support.
Such attacks have occurred several times before, officials confirmed, adding that understaffed teams are often forced to retreat to save their lives.
To fill vacancies, the state government launched a recruitment drive in 2023 for 583 Excise Constable posts. These include 237 seats for the unreserved category, 148 for the Scheduled Tribe, 57 for the Scheduled Caste, 50 for OBC-I, 32 for OBC-II, and 59 for the EWS category. The Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission has qualified 1,48,054 candidates in the Physical Efficiency Test, and the written examination will be conducted soon.
Key Highlights:
| Post Name | Sanctioned | Working | Vacant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joint Commissioner of Excise | 01 | 01 | 00 |
| Deputy Commissioner of Excise | 04 | 00 | 04 |
| Assistant Commissioner of Excise | 07 | 07 | 00 |
| Superintendent of Excise | 20 | 03 | 17 |
| Chemical Examiner | 11 | 00 | 11 |
| Inspector of Excise | 37 | 28 | 09 |
| Technician | 01 | 00 | 01 |
| Stenographer | 07 | 00 | 07 |
| Sub-Inspector of Excise | 125 | 55 | 70 |
| Laboratory Assistant | 01 | 00 | 01 |
| ASI of Excise | 105 | 03 | 102 |
| Excise Constable | 622 | 29 | 593 |
| Excise Clerk | 88 | 34 | 54 |
| Driver | 36 | 00 | 36 |
| Office Attendant | 07 | 04 | 03 |
| Attendant | 03 | 03 | 00 |
| Laboratory Attendant | 01 | 00 | 01 |
| Sweeper | 03 | 01 | 02 |
| Record Keeper | 01 | 01 | 00 |
| Total | 1070 | 169 | 901 |