Panaji: Goa Police informed the high court that all possible measures are being taken to ensure investigations are not hampered, with optimal utilisation of available personnel and efforts underway to fill vacant posts.Responding to the high court’s suo motu petition based on TOI’s July 28, 2025 report, ‘Almost 90% police stations in Goa facing staff shortage’, superintendent of police (headquarters) Tushar Vernekar said recruitment and promotion processes are in progress.In an affidavit, Vernekar said 661 posts were vacant as of Sept 1, 2025, adding that vacancies arising due to superannuation are being filled immediately.He stated that all vacant posts of police inspectors, sub-inspectors, assistant sub-inspectors and head constables up to Dec 31, 2025, have been filled through promotions of eligible personnel who secured vigilance clearance.Where officers are facing departmental inquiries or criminal trials and promotion recommendations have been kept in sealed cover, action will be taken once the embargo is lifted, he said.For promotions to deputy superintendent of police, a proposal will be sent to govt after the seniority issue of police inspectors is resolved in line with high court directions in three writ petitions filed in 2023.Vernekar said govt has initiated recruitment for feeder ranks through the Goa Staff Selection Commission. He also informed the court that police stations at Saligao, Mandrem, Mardol, Fatorda and Colvale, a police outpost at Socorro-Porvorim, and traffic cells at Fatorda and Porvorim were set up with govt approval on the condition that existing staff be utilised. In Oct 2025, however, the department sought additional manpower for these units.He further said specialised units such as the cybercrime cell, anti-human trafficking cell and economic offences cell were created to ensure efficient investigation.“The investigation in all cases is conducted in a speedy manner by adhering to the provisions of the BNSS 2023,” he said, adding that the department has proposed creation of 2,578 additional posts across various ranks.The high court had observed in the suo motu petition that police shortages could directly affect the progress of criminal investigations.