Avinash Azad
Early Times Report
JAMMU, Oct 20: Infuriated over employees' refusal to obey his diktats, forest Minister allegedly removed several Forest Officers from their positions, who refused to attend frequent meetings being called by him. Further, apprehending possible mutiny, several junior most officers have been placed against Grade-II posts.
According to sources, as sequel to the ongoing deadlock between Non-Gazetted Forest Official Association (NGFOA), that arisen on October 17 when the association boycotted the meeting called by minister due to his late arrival.
"At least, a dozen officials all from NGFOA, have been replaced for daring, minister's dictate. To please the minister the biased order was issued by the Chief Conservator of Forests yesterday", said one of the suspended officials seeking not to be named.
He further alleged that not only attachments, even several officials have been booked and arrested by Sidhra police on direction of Minister. "These arrests and suspension speak of the autocratic approach of the Minister, who frequently calls meetings and behaves like in monarch during the meetings", he said, and added that since the day Ch Lal Singh took over, he never discussed the issue related to DPC, Pay Anomalies and others grievances.
"Those who dared the Minister, have been booked under section 341, 323, 353, 382, 504, 506 and 147 FIR number 199/2016 at Police Post Sidhra", they said.
"There are 65 sanctioned posts of the Grade-II Range Officers, but to unabated Jungle Raj in the department, number of Grade-II has crossed 300", the rebellious officials told Early Times, adding that the an influential officer, close to Minister was ruling roost and nobody in the department even, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Commissioner Secretary Forest Department dare to object what the officer suggests or recommends.
"Number of Forest Guards had died while retrieving encroached land and several other officials have been injured while performing their duties, but unfortunately not a single issue about the miseries of field staff have been taken in the meetings called the Minister", the officer said, adding the approach of the higher authorities is discoursing the field staff to fight or retrieve encroached forest land. |
