Promotions of SFS officers ‘stalled for benefit of IFS lobby’.We have been deprived of our legitimate service rights, cry state officers

Srinagar: Reacting over recent attachment of some officers, State Forest Service Officers Association (SFSOA) Monday alleged that process has been initiated to pave the way for Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers.

According to the government order No: FST/Ser/Transfer/HG/2015 issued on 23-01-2015 State Forest officers can’t hold important divisional posts now. The development has triggered resentment within State forest officers who allege that bureaucrats have over the time almost wiped the chance of their growth.

Sources told KNS that clandestine intrigue against the State Forest Officers is in process and their promotions, confirmations have intentionally been stalled to pave way for IFS officers. “All files of confirmation ACFs, DCFs and RO-I and their APRs have been stalled for last many years in civil secretariat and in the office of Principal Chief Conservator Forests to prevent the growth of State forest officers,” they said and added despite fulfillment of eligibility criteria for promotions to the higher ranks, their confirmation has been stalled to create a vacuum and gap in State Forest Service to pave way for IFS officers.

“The recent attachment of senior state officers whose confirmation has been stalled by some vested interests in the Secretariat in consonance with IFS lobby is a clear and conspicuous signal to State officers that their role in the management of forests is over,” they alleged.

Iqbal Munshi President SFSOA told KNS says he fails to understand the reason for delay in the promotion and confirmation of Range Officer-I (RO-I) to the post of ACF who for the last several years have been deprived of their legitimate service rights. “Besides all efforts by the SFS officers to change redundant service rules for their growth have been stalled by the IFS and bureaucratic lobby in the Secretariat,” he said.

It is astonishing that the last cadre review for State Service Officers was done 43 years back in 1972 and the government never bothered to review the SFS rules while the cadre review of IFS has regularly been carried out after every six years.

“The IFS nexus has created a huge gap in state services and is now reaping the benefit at the cost of state service. The nexus was waiting for an opportune time (Governor’s rule) to put last nail in the coffin by attachment of state forest officers in the aforementioned order,” the SFSOA President claimed.

He said it was SFS officers who served in the toughest and turbulent times during militancy and did everything possible to save forests. “The SFS officers pose a question to all forces which are promoting the IFS officers at the cost of our growth where these officers were during the turmoil when state needed them for protection of forests? 285 state officers lost their lives in various protection drives. These officers (IFS) at that time had taken refuge in safe haven,” he said.

It is interesting to note that even in the current order only two local IFS officers have been posted in valley.

The SFS Association asked the government why it is reluctant to fill up the state induction posts. “The total strength of IFS cadre posts is 106 out of which 53 are from regular recruitment and 53 from induction from state. The Government is intentionally not inducting state officers into IFS only to prevent the state officers from manning such posts. What compels the government to bestow postings On Job Trainee (OJT) officers of IFS who are not eligible yet?” Munshi asked.

“It seems that they are too eager to post them ignoring all rules and regulations. The authorities have to explain the reasons for stalling the confirmation of SFS officers. It seems that a macabre of such gusto is being performed by authorities on central directions to wipe out the state services completely,” he added.

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