NAGPUR, Aug 2: The issue of transfer and posting of Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers of the State has taken a curious turn with Chief Minister Manohar Joshi reportedly refusing to sign the revised transfer proposal prepared by Forest Minister Chandrakant Khaire, overriding the objection of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF).According to sources, the entire revised proposal was pending in the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) and following its rejection the transfers may now be deferred till the next year since transfers are not supposed to be advisable in middle of the year. Besides, plantation work has already begun and has to be carried out on a war footing as the World Bank assistance for it expires in September next.According to Mantralaya sources, the PCCF office here had sent the proposal for transfer of only 19 Deputy Conservators of Forests (Dy CF) in the State long back in accordance with the norms and guidelines of the transfer policy which was adopted by the Cabinet in the wakeof the Sutar episode a few months back. However, for reasons best known to himself Forest Minister Khaire made drastic changes in the recommendations prepared by the PCCF and added the names of 23 more IFS officers, thus flouting the norms of transfer policy.In the revised transfer proposal, the Minister reportedly gave `plum' postings to his favourite officers which irked the upright officers who allege that the transfer proposals have been revised for `extraneous' considerations.However, Forest Secretary Govind Swarup and Chief Secretary P Subramaniyam took a principled stand on the issue and reportedly gave adverse notings on the revised proposal prepared by the Forest Minister. They have upheld the earlier proposal made by the PCCF for the posting and transfer a few months back. The notings reportedly questioned the posting and transfer of some officers who haven't completed even one or two years of their present tenure.The discontent among the officers on the issue could be gauged fromthe fact when the Minister tried to transfer Rajesh Das, the Dy CF of Alibag forest division, and some other officials of the division, a public interest litigation (PIL) was filed in the Mumbai High Court. The court has already directed the Government not to take such a decision in this regard. Das exposed the massive encroachment of forest land in his division by moneyed people and initiated action against concerned persons.The entire issue was taken seriously in the meeting of the Maharashtra unit of IFS Association, held here on July 10 last.The meeting unanimously expressed its concern and pain over the fact that some of the members were trying to get postings of their choice by resorting to use of political pressure.The Association also resolved that it would ensure necessary intervention at appropriate levels to set the things right in case transfer orders of IFS officers are issued.As regards the growing political manoeuvring resorted to by some members of the Association, the generalbody was unequivocal in resolving that such attempts should be viewed seriously and be condemned. Some members also suggested that the situation had arisen because of systematic and gradual erosion of the value system of the organisation and also due to an overall deterioration in the work environment in the department.The meeting also adopted a placement policy which would be submitted to the Government for consideration. The meeting urged the Government that two consecutive territorial postings should not be given to an IFS officer. Territorial posting is rated as a `plum' posting in the Forest Department.
