| JK UT Govt transfers IFS officer to Ladakh in violation of rule | | Competent authority MOEFCC GoI bypassed, Officer punished for his transparent work in FRA cases | | Rajesh Tandon
Early Times Report
Poonch, Feb 22: In a very shocking instance, the transfer and posting order of IFS officers issued by the Jammu Kashmir Union Territory Government to Union Territory of Ladakh has come under scanner due to alleged violation of rule and bypassing competent Joint AGMUT Cadre Management Authority (i.e. MOEFCC, GoI.
An IFS officer, who remained posted as DFO Poonch was punished, for his honesty and outstanding performance in protection of forest and showing transparency in disposal of FRA cases, by transferring him to UT Ladakh against laid down rule 43 & first schedule (subject assigned to GAD department) under Transaction of Business of the Government of UT of J&K Rules, 2019, without consideration of competent Joint AGMUT Cadre Management Authority (i.e. MOEFCC, GoI) and also against guidelines for transfer/posting of IFS officers of Joint AGMUT cadre issued by MOEFCC issued on 04-11-2019.
The Commissioner/ Secretary Forests, Ecology & Environment to Government of J&K had issued a Transfer and Posting order I 6-JK(FST) of 2022 dated:- 13-02-2022, wherein some IFS officer of JK UT cadre were transferred to Ladakh despite the fact that a Commissioner/ Secretary is not competent to effect transfer and posting of IFS officers to other UT as approval of competent Joint AGMUT Cadre Management Authority (i.e. MOEFCC, GoI) is required. Moreover, in the same order, a non- cadre officer was posted on cadre post whereas a cadre officer has been placed at disposal outside UT of J&K.
As per reports, an IFS officer, who served as DFO Poonch for 3.5 years, had accomplished landmark work of forest protection through records reconciliation, cancellation of illegal records, demarcation & installation of BP's, eviction of encroachers and protection & rehabilitation of land through fencing & plantation.
Even his good work was appreciated by the High Court in SAVE PII, case and Controlling officers had twice nominated his name for LG award in Public Service Category. During his tenure as DFO Poonch, he cancelled illegal records of 25,000 kanal, demarcated 70,000 kanal of forest land, and reconciled records of 649 kanal. Entry of forest on state land- 3,000 kanal and eviction of encroachers from thousands of kanals encroached land.
Shockingly, despite such appreciated & recognized work, the IFS officer was attached in office of CCF Jammu vide Govt. order no. 100-JK(FST) of 2021 dt:- 20-09-2021 for no reason in highly unjustified & unwarranted and demoralizing manner, besides without any knowledge to controlling officers upto to the Direction office.
Although the IFS officer did rightful, legal act during DLC meeting on 16-09-2021 for clearance of forest right cases & Minutes of Meeting duly endorse the joint action issued by DC Poonch. However, DLC is a statutory body under FRA but attempts were made to influence the decision during the meeting, which was unethical & against the laid down provisions.
After five months of attachment in the CCF office, vide T&P Govt. order no. 16-JK(FST) of 2022 dt:- 13-02-2022, he was placed at disposal of Govt. of UT of Ladakh against laid down rule 43 & first schedule (subject assigned to GAD department) under Transaction of Business of the Government of UT of J&K Rules, 2019, without consideration of competent Joint AGMUT Cadre Management Authority. Although there are four districts in Jammu region where posts of DFO have been going vacant, yet knowing all these facts, this officer was transferred to Ladakh.
Despite repeated calls and text messages to the concerned Commissioner Secretary Sanjeev Verma and the Chief Conservator of Forest Mohit Gera, they didn’t reply to the correspondent for their comments. |
|
