Avinash Azad
Early Times Report
Jammu, Apr 15: The seniority list of Foresters released recently by the Forest department comprises nearly 150 officials with fake degrees, Early Times has learnt.
"There are 594 Foresters in the list, and more than 150 possess degrees from Vinaika Mission University or other unauthorized institutions," sources said, adding that the serving employees managed to get their degrees from universities outside the State which have already been declared invalid by the GAD as well as by High Court of Jammu and Kashmir.
"Revised tentative list of Foresters issued by Forest Department vide Circular No.03 of 2016 dated 02.04.2016 by the PCCF office, is arbitrary, fake and misguiding, as it has been issued without taking in consideration the rules and length of their service and fulfilling the criteria under rules viz SRO 335 while promoting the foresters reflected in the list", said the sources, adding that most of the Foresters/Incharge ROs do not fulfill basic criteria.
"As the Foresters and Range Officers are the backbone and executive posts to implement the policies of Forest Department at ground level. A thorough investigation, needed from an independent agency, to streamline the defaultery system of promotion in Forest Department", they said.
Sources said that most of the candidates, reflected in the list are appointed as Casual Labourers, motivators in Social Forestry Department, Telephone Operators, appointed in Projects as FGDs, have no proper/recognized appointing authorities, are reflected in this list.
"It is also matter of enquiry how they managed to undergo KFC training which is not possible without the connivance with the staff working in CCF's/PCCF's office", they said, adding that now they are serving as Foresters and Range Officers in the major Blocks/Ranges with the patronage of CCF's/PCCF's, throughout the length and the breadth of the J&K State.
Above all most of the candidates shown in the tentative seniority list, appointed as Daily Wagers, have managed fake Degrees and produced for getting promotions as Foresters/Rangers in connivance with the officers/staff at the helm of the affairs in Forest Department. "These incompetent Foresters/Range Officers are hampering the working/efficiency of the Forest Department. A thorough inquiry should be conducted as the most of the persons have fake Degrees and got elevated to the post of Foresters and Range Officer", they added.
They requested upon Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti to hunt these officials in the seniority list who had got their fake degrees. |
