Forest Department Transfers Spark Outrage Over Mockery of Administrative Process

Public Outcry Erupts as Forest Department Faces Backlash for Dubious Transfer Practices, Prompting Calls for Transparency and Accountability

• The Forest Department transfers in Jammu and Kashmir have stirred controversy, revealing a pattern of administrative mismanagement and favouritism.
• Investigations by higher authorities have exposed a series of transfers that merely shuffled employees within the same building, in a deceptive attempt to conceal prolonged stays.
  Reviewing the transfer lists, authorities found glaring discrepancies, notably the omission of long-serving employees who had overstayed in their positions for up to 12 years.
• In response to the findings, the Government of Jammu & Kashmir’s Department of Forest, Ecology & Environment issued a directive urging a re-examination of the transfer proposals within five days.
• The controversy has sparked widespread calls for a thorough inquiry to hold accountable those responsible for manipulating the transfer process to favour certain individuals, emphasizing the need for transparency and fairness in government institutions.

JJ CORRESPONDENT

Jammu, February 22: The Forest Department of Jammu and Kashmir (UT) is embroiled in controversy following a series of transfers that is being labelled as a mockery of the administrative system.

The saga began with Personnel Officer Kuldeep Raj, JKAS, issuing Forest Order No. 34/ of 2024, dated 14/02/2024, under subject Transfer and Posting of Ministerial Staff of Jammu Province referring Administrative Department Letter No. FSt-NG/8/2024-04 (CC-7405014) dated 12-02-204, which transferred 49 ministerial staff, including Head Assistants, Senior Assistants, Junior Assistants, In-charge Junior Assistants, Orderlies, and Helpers, purportedly in the “Interest of Administration” and with “Approval Of Competent Authority.”
Shockingly, investigations by higher authorities at the Civil Secretariat revealed that many of these transfers merely shuffled employees from one floor or room to another within the same building located at Dogra Hall, Jammu. This revelation has sparked outrage and raised serious questions about the integrity of the administrative process.
Similarly, Forest Order No. 31 of 2024 facilitated 51 transfers, while Order No. 33 accounted for 44 transfers in Jammu Province and 55 in Kashmir Province.
Upon review, the higher authorities at the Civil Secretariat uncovered discrepancies in the transfer list. They noted that employees who had overstayed in their positions were not included in the transfer list. This possibly deliberate oversight affected a total of 40 employees, with 4 in the office of the Pr. CCF, 20 in Kashmir Province, and 16 in Jammu Province. These individuals had remained in their roles for periods ranging from 5 to 12 years without being transferred.
In response to these findings, the Government of Jammu & Kashmir’s Department of Forest, Ecology & Environment issued a directive vide No. FST-NG/8/2024-04(C. No, 7405014) Dated: 20-02-2024, to the Pr. Chief Conservator of Forest & HoFF, J&K, Jammu, highlighting the observed discrepancies and urging a re-examination of the transfer proposals within five days.
The letter says, “I am directed to refer this Department’s. letter No. FST-NG/8/2024-04 (C. No. 7405014) dated 12.02.2024 and to enclose herewith the indicative list of officials who have not been transferred and whase names were not incorporated in the transfer proposal submitted by you for approval. Further, it has also been reported/observed that the transfer and posting orders in respect of some officials have been made in the same office merely to break the stay of overstaying Officials.
Accordingly, you are requested to examine the matter and furnish a proposal: (i) in respect of the left-out ministerial officials/executive staff doing the ministerial work (ii) re-examine the transfer and posting of officials posted in the same office in the garb of transfer and posting and furnish their revised proposal alongwith justification, within a period of five (05) days positively.
The matter may be treated as Most Urgent,
Yours faithfully,
(Raj Kumar Sharma)
Under Secretary to the Government”
Upon receiving the communique, Kuldeep Raj, JKAS, serving as Personnel Officer in the office of Pr. Chief Conservator of Forests (HoFF) J&K (UT) forwarded the order to Additional Pr. Chief Conservator of Forests, Kashmir, and Chief Conservator of Forests, Jammu, for their information and comments vide No: PCCF/Estt/NG/ 488-89 Dated: 20-02-2024.
The directive emphasized the need for proposed changes or modifications in light of the instructions from the Department of Forest, Ecology & Environment.
It is appalling to witness how some officials misuse their positions of authority to show favouritism towards certain employees. By neglecting to transfer those who have overstayed in their roles, they undermine the integrity of the administrative system.
Some resort to superficial transfers, merely relocating individuals from one room or floor to another, in a deceptive attempt to conceal prolonged stays.
This manipulation of the system aims to evade accountability for allowing employees to remain in their positions for extended periods, serving personal interests at the expense of organizational transparency and fairness.
The situation has prompted calls for a thorough inquiry to hold accountable those responsible for manipulating the transfer process to favour certain individuals. Critics argue that such actions undermine the principles of transparency and fairness within the administrative framework.
As the controversy unfolds, it underscores the importance of maintaining integrity and accountability in government institutions to uphold the trust and confidence of the public they serve.