Chandigarh, July 16: Forest Minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot has courted a controversy by reportedly ordering large-scale transfers of field staff in the department.
In alleged violation of the transfer policy, 68 officers were shifted on June 27. The transfers were later stayed by Punjab and Haryana High Court following a petition filed by an affected range officer, Sukhwinder Singh. He cited the transfer policy of 2018-19, which says no employee would be transferred before the completion of three-year service at the place of posting.
Dharamsot claimed that he had not ordered the transfers. “It was done at the level of the Secretary or Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF). They should be held accountable,” he stated.
Official sources said the transfer orders were issued by the Additional Chief Secretary (Forests) after an approval by the minister. Additional Chief Secretary MP Singh and the PCCF Jitendra Sharma were not available for comments.
In the order, foresters were posted at the range level, whereas the positions are held by range officers and deputy range officers, pointed out officials.
In wake of the High Court orders, the department has not implemented the transfer orders and was coming up with a fresh list in light of the transfer policy.
Beginning from June, the transfer period has been extended till July 16. A senior bureaucrat said in some other departments too, transfers were being made in violation of the guidelines issued by the Personnel Department.
Source Tribune India
