Journalism of Courage
This is an archive article published on May 18, 2024
Supreme Court: Precious forests should be saved from hazards of fire
On Friday, SG Mehta said that the total vacancies of field staff as on July 1 2023, was 1,709 and that 1,252 frontline field staff were appointed in the last one year.
On why forest personnel were deployed on election duties, he explained that certain field officials of the forest department were engaged for this due to shortage of government staff in the districts concerned.
The Supreme Court Friday underscored the need to protect “precious forests” from the hazards of fires as the Uttarakhand government said that it was trying to find a permanent solution to the problem which has been affecting its forests.
A two-judge bench presided over by Justice B R Gavai which had summoned the state Chief Secretary to answer what it said was the “lackadaisical” approach to tackling the fires in Uttarakhand forests, Friday “appreciated” the stand taken by the state after hearing what it was doing.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who appeared for the state, assured the bench, also comprising Justice Sandeep Mehta, that the chief secretary along with other senior officers were personally looking into this issue and were trying to find out a permanent solution for avoiding forest fires and to bring them under control at the earliest.
Hearing it on May 15, the SC had raised questions on the large number of vacancies in the forest department and sought to know why forest department officials were being deputed on election duty even though the Election Commission had granted exemption to the department and directed that this should be stopped.
On Friday, SG Mehta said that the total vacancies of field staff as on July 1 2023, was 1,709 and that 1,252 frontline field staff were appointed in the last one year.
As of May 1, there are 942 vacancies of which 715 vacant posts are of direct recruits, that is, range officers, forest guards etc and requisition proposal has been sent to the Uttarakhand Public Service Commission and Uttarakhand subordinate service selection commission, he pointed out.
On why forest personnel were deployed on election duties, he explained that certain field officials of the forest department were engaged for this due to shortage of government staff in the districts concerned.
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Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Radha Raturi was present in the court as directed by the court.
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
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