Key Points
New Delhi:The Indian Forest Service Association has requested the Madhya Pradesh government to modify its June order, which states that district magistrates and divisional commissioners would have a say in the appraisals of the IFS officers serving in districts...
The 29 June government order mandates that tasks related with forest management, the Forest Rights Act, land acquisition, ecotourism, mining activities in forest areas performed by IFS officers serving as Divisional Forest Officer, Conservator of Forests, and Chief Conservator of Forests, be evaluated by the district collector and divisional commissioner...
The IFS officers are to be graded on a scale of 10 by the district collector and divisional commissioner, who are also supposed to give remarks about the IFS officers in their appraisal report, according to the governments order...
The order raises questions of conflict of interest, contravenes a Supreme Court judgement, endangers forest conservation, in addition to dampening the morale of the officers of the IFS, the Association letter dated 4 July, says.. This administrative order will serve as a major setback for the conservation and protection of natural resources of the country, which is the prime mandate of the Indian Forest Service Officers, it says.. It is baffling to note that an officer is being assessed by two officers from different departments, which could adversely impact the career progression of the officer, the letter adds..
It is only in the case of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, who has no superior authority within the service, that the reporting authority can be outside of the forest department, the judgement said.. Requesting the CM to accordingly revise the order, the Association says, the order may be kindly examined and suitably modified, as it amounts to a gross violation of the orders of the Honourable Supreme Court...
