Row over transfers of eleven foresters

NAGPUR, May 2: Controversial Conservator of Forests (CF), Nagpur Circle, Tasleem Ahmed, who was in the news recently for his alleged dubiou...

NAGPUR, May 2: Controversial Conservator of Forests (CF), Nagpur Circle, Tasleem Ahmed, who was in the news recently for his alleged dubious role in favouring a senior police officer for regularisation of “wildlife skins of doubtful origin”, is at it again.

In an attempt to ensure plum postings for his blue-eyed boys, he has tried to circumvent the transfer process and has issued transfer orders to 11 officials without waiting for the different units of the forest department to submit their proposals and recommendations . This may be because he will be shifted as his three-year tenure as CF Nagpur circle will end soon.

He had sent out the transfer orders just a couple of days after he issued a circular to unit heads asking for their recommendations. Some of them may not have even seen the circular. Moreover, Ahmed chose a time when the Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) in-charge of his area, A N Ballal, and the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), Jagir Singh, were on leave.

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As per sources, Ahmed had sent letters to CF (Evaluation), CF (Working Plan), Joint Director, Social Forestry, CF (Wildlife) and PCCF (Headquarters) regarding the proposals for transfers of Range Forest Officers (RFOs) in the region on April 22. He then went on to issue transfer orders to 11 RFOs on April 25 without waiting for the proposals.

It is alleged that most of the foresters, who were given the postings of territorial charge were already functioning as RFO (territories) in different ranges in the area. Moreover, the normal practice when an officer is due for transfer, is to leave matters like posting to his successor to decide.

The local Range Forest Officers Association took a strong exception to the entire episode. In a memorandum to the PCCF, the association has sought the cancellation of the transfers alleging that they were malafide. They have also reportedly threatened that if the transfers of RFOs were not cancelled they would move court.