Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Feb 6: The State Forest Department has promoted six influential Foresters including brother of a Minister as In-charge Range Officers after by-passing the seniority list issued by the Department.
The State Forest Department last week issued an order (48-FST dated 31-01-2013) of transfers and posting of 18 Forest officers including Range Officers (ROs) and Foresters. Under the order, six junior foresters were also placed as In-charge Range Officers in violation of the recent seniority list issued by the Department.
The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), Vinod Mahajan, submitted (No. PCCF/Estt/G/RO/2979 dated 31-08-2012) the seniority list updated in May last year to the Commissioner Secretary to Government, Forest Department for the placement of the senior most Foresters as range officers. In the communication he had said that there was a need of 46 Range Officers as 46 important Forest Ranges were without of Rangers in August last year.
And the six Foresters who were promoted as In-Charge Range Officers were junior as per the seniority list. The junior foresters who were promoted as In-charge Range Officers are Riyaz Ahmad Wani, Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, Mohammad Yusuf Khan, Wali Mohammad Mir, Muneer Ahmad Rather and Tariq Mehmood Kohli.
As per the Government order (48-FST dated 31-01-2013) Reyaz Ahmed Wani Forester SC & FC Division Pohru was posted as I/C RO Half Wraught, Baramulla, Muneer Ahmed Rather Forester URI CAT was posted as I/C RO Control Room, Ganderbal, Tariq Mehmood Kohli, I/C ZSCO Haveli was posted as I/C RO Haveli, Wali Mohd Mir, Forester was posted as I/C RO Ajas, Mohd Yousuf Khan, Forester Bondipora Div was posted as I/C RO Khuhi Hama and Mushtaq Ahmed Khan Forester J V Division Baramulla was posted as I/C RO J V Division.
The Forest Department as per the records has given preference to the kinship and ignored the seniority while posting the six foresters as In-charge Range Officers.
Forester Mohammad Yusuf Khan who was posted as In-charge Range Officer is brother of one of the Ministers, Nazir Ahmad Gurezi (MoS with independent Charge of Animal and Sheep Husbandry). He is 96 batch officer, appointed under RBA category and is at serial number 174 in the seniority list.
Muneer Ahmad Rather, who is nephew of one of NC MLC Sheikh Ghulam Rasool, former Chief Secretary, is at serial number 130 in the seniority list. Mushtaq Ahmad Khan who is at serial number 180 in the seniority list is close relative of one of the top officials of the Forest Department Manzoor Ahmad Khan, presently posted as Chief Conservator of Forests, Kashmir. Reyaz Ahmad Wani is at 163, Wali Mohammad Mir is at 173 and Tariq Mehmood Kohli at 169.
Among the senior Foresters who have been left out, Shafaqat Ahmad Inayati is senior most Forester of 1989 batch. He is at serial number 100. Ajaz Rasool who is 95 batch officer and is at serial number 164, Farooq Ahmad Mir 95 batch officer appointed under RBA category is at serial number 167 is among the left outs.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel