Environment Ministry cites pending approvals, lack of candidates, refusal to join for over 50% vacancy at pollution control boards

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A range for reasons, including delayed approvals, abolition of posts, and procedural lapses among many other factors have led to at least 50% vacancies in pollution control boards of states and union territories (UTs) still lying vacant, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change said on July 28.

The Ministry's written response to a question raised by Congress MP from Krishnagiri constituency in Tamil Nadu - K Gopinath - revealed that there have been delays in filling positions due to procedural lapses by states and UTs, such as recruitment rules either being under process or pending for approval, delays in sanction of staffing pattern, or abolition of posts altogether.

A Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) report from 2023 showed that at least 6,075 (50.56%) of the 12,016 sanctioned posts across 28 state pollution control boards and eight pollution control committees have been vacant. Two years later, the vacancies continue to be half of the total positions, the government said.

The Ministry highlighted that despite running full recruitment processes, new recruits did not join in some cases 'due to different reasons'. In posts for deputation and feeder grade, the state pollution control boards are struggling as no applications have been received.  As a result, promotional posts in the feeder cadres too remain vacant, the Ministry said.

Among other reasons, the Ministry said court cases too are impacting recruitment, as well as promotions in some instances. Besides, owing to bifurcation of state, some posts were being proposed for surrender, which was cited as one of the reasons.

While the Ministry reiterated that it is the responsibility of the states and UTs to fill such posts, it also mentioned that on its part, reminder letters have been sent. "The Central government has reminded state government/UT administrations to fill the vacancies, at the earliest. In MC Mehta versus Union of India case, the Supreme Court vide its order dated May 8, 2025 directed all the State Pollution Control Boards and Committees to ensure that all the vacancies are filled
by the end of September, 2025," it said.

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Calling it a sorry state of affairs, the Supreme Court of India had on May 8, 2025 chided governments of Delhi and adjoining states Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan for not filling vacancies in their respective pollution control boards. The top court had pointed out that the presence of 55% vacant posts in the Delhi Pollution Control Committee was shocking, that the body was 'virtually defunct'.