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| 40 days after its orders were mocked, Govt mulling action against top officer | | | ZAFAR CHOUDHARY
EARLY TIMES REPORT
Jammu, Nov 12: Waiting for over 40 days to see implementation of its orders and after suffering a smear campaign doubting intents and motives, the government is planning disciplinary action against a top officer of Forest Department.
One of the top three senior most officers of the Indian Forest Services of Jammu and Kashmir cadre, Irshad Ahmed Khan, the then Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, was transferred and posted as Chief Wildlife Warden on October 1. It was a Cabinet decision which effected transfers and postings of 28 top to middle officers on Forest department including the posting of eminent forester Jagdish Kishwan as new Principal Chief Conservator of Forests.
Much to the displeasure of the government Khan refused to join at the place of his new posting citing reasons of grade and seniority. By that time he had been the PCCF for more than three years and the government was not any more inclined to keep him at the same post till he retires. Then began a smear campaign against the government and the Forest department.
Despite clarification at two occasions neither the officer joined at his new posting nor did the campaign stop. The Government is reported to have taken a serious view of blatant violation of its orders and apparent arm twisting tactics on being asked to obey the orders. Sources told Early Times that the Administrative Department has prepared a note against Irshad Ahmed Khan for consideration of the Cabinet which is being taken up in the next meeting.
What contacted the Minister for Forests Mian Altaf Ahmed described as unfortunate the attitude of the officer. He said that Khan was posted as Chief Wildlife Warden after due consideration of seniority and grades. “There is far more scope of doing better job in Wildlife Department than any other wing of the Forest Department and Khan could have set a precedence by his performance”, said Mian Altaf Ahmed as he refused to divulge details of action being mulled against the officer.
Sources, however, said that the government is reported to have considered various pros and cons of the situation, particularly in light of the civil service rules to prepare a note for the cabinet. “There are many departments where top officers of almost equal seniority have to be deployed to different assignments as heads of department”, said a source who added, “such disobeying by one officer can set a bad precedence for the others and a serious problem for the government”.
Efforts were made to reach Irshad Khan for his comments but he was not available. Sources close to him said that he is out of station.
The Government is meanwhile zeroing down on the names of other officers to head the Wildlife Department. When asked what if Irshad Khan accepts the October 1 order, a source pointed out that the government is looking for another officer to man the department as he ruled out the possibility of giving charge to Irshad Khan after this prolonged drama which could have been avoided.
The Wildlife Department is presently being looked after another topmost officer RD Tiwari, who is also the Director of State Forest Research Institute.
(With inputs from Sandeep Bhat)
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