Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Sept 3: State Cabinet, which is meeting under the chairmanship of Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah on September 5 morning, will accord approval to the down gradation of 682 posts of Forest Protection Force (FPF) Guards for the adjustment of Watchers.
This has been necessitated due to the directions of the State High Court, which in its order dated August 3, 2012, had made it clear to State Government that any further delay in deciding the fate of the 682 Forest Protection Watchers would entail the consequences provided in the Contempt of Court Act.
Authoritative sources told EXCELSIOR that following creation of Directorate of Forest Protection Force way back in 1996, the State Government constituted two committees for selection of candidates for Class IV post in the Forest Department and these committees headed by respective Chief Conservator of Forests appointed 681 Watchers against 500 posts of Forest Protection Guards earmarked for direct recruitment.
The Forest Divisions where these Watchers were posted faced difficulty in preparing their service books as the posts of Watchers didn’t exist in the sanction strength of Forest Protection Force and the lowest post in the FPF is that of Forest Protection Force Guard, sources said, adding “the appointment of these Watchers has been made in the FPF but they have been deputed to work in Forest Territorial Divisions”.
As despite their appointment after a due process of selection neither Forest Department nor the FPF were accepting these Watchers as members of their service, these Watchers knocked the doors of State High Court, which on April 29, 2011 directed the Chief Secretary to constitute a committee to examine the matter and recommend the status of the petitioners. The Chief Secretary was also directed to complete the entire exercise within a period of four months.
“The Committee was constituted by the Government about two months after the High Court issued directives and by the time it submitted its report the time-frame set by the High Court had expired”, sources said, adding “the Government could not meet the deadline set by the High Court as the issue being very complex had to be examined at the level of Commissioner Secretary Forest, Principal Secretary Finance and Director FPF”.
After hectic exercise a detailed proposal was again referred to the Finance Department, which conveyed agreement to the downgrading of 682 posts of Forest Protection Guards for adjustment of Watchers from the date of their initial appointment with the condition that delinquent officers responsible for appointments in excess should be identified and action initiated against them, sources said.
In the meantime, a contempt of court case filed in the matter came up for hearing before the High Court on August 3, 2012, which while issuing directions for implementation of its earlier directions in letter and spirit, made it clear that any further delay would entail the consequences provided in the Contempt of Court Act, sources said, adding “in order to avoid contempt of court proceedings, Forest Department is placing a proposal before the State Cabinet on September 5 for its approval for down-gradation of 682 posts of FPF guards for adjustment of Watchers from the dates of their initial appointment and transfer of 170 posts of FPF Guards from districts of Jammu division to the districts of Kashmir division for adjustment of Watchers.
In response to a question, sources said, “the condition imposed by the Finance Department for action against officers responsible for appointments in excess is under examination in the Forest Department and very shortly a committee of officers will be constituted to accomplish the task and make necessary recommendations”.
The Cabinet will also clear several proposals relating to use of forest land for non-forest purposes and re-employment of Dr Muneer Ahmad Masoodi (retired) and HoD, Government Medical College Srinagar and ex-Medical Superintendent SMHS Hospital, Srinagar.
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