Citing a large number of pending cases coupled with acute manpower shortage, CBI director Anil Sinha (IPS:1979:BH) has stated that the agency could "collapse and fail" if its demand for more personnel from states on deputation is not fulfilled. Appearing before the Parliamentary Committee Mr Sinha said the agency's capacity for investigation was around 700 cases a year which has now almost doubled, which also includes the increase in the number of cases referred to CBI by Supreme Court and High Courts According to the latest data total of 1,531 posts were vacant in CBI as against sanctioned strength of 7,274 posts The report submitted by the agency shows that a total of 1,200 cases and "62 foreign investigations" were pending. Of the total pending cases, 31 are pending for over three years. While deposing before the committee, the Director, CBI, proposed to provide longer tenure to officers on deputation in the agency from the state and other central forces in addition to other steps taken to manage vacancies, said the report of Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice, tabled in Parliament today.