No decision as IFS officer moves CAT

Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, September 30

Legal wrangle has prevented the appointment of a new Principal Chief Conservator, Forests, (PCCF) even as the present incumbent SP Vasudeva retired from service today.

Though the Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) meeting headed by Chief Secretary VC Pharka was held here today to take a call on the name of the persons who would head the Forest Department, owing to the fact that one of the IFS officers DP Sinha has moved the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), no decision was taken.

Shamsher Singh Negi has been made the officiating PCCF along with his present posting as the PCCF (Wildlife). Incidentally, even last year before SP Vasudeva (1982) was made the PCCF, Negi had been given the officiating charge. Negi is due to retire next June.

Sources said that Sinha, a 1981 batch IFS officer had moved the CAT, seeking the same pay grade as PCCF Vasudeva who was a batch junior to him. Negi belongs to the 1983 batch. “Since the case in the CAT is still pending, ignoring his seniority once again could spell trouble as Negi is two batches junior to him,” revealed sources. Sinha, currently on deputation in Lucknow, was overlooked even at the time of appointment of Vasudeva, last year despite belonging to the 1981 batch.

Sources said while in case of IAS, the salary being drawn by the Chief Secretary is also given to all those who are Additional Chief Secretaries but in case of the IFS, the top pay grade is only given to the head of forest force, which is the PCCF. As such appointment of Negi could have complicated matters further, resulting in the DPC deferring a decision on the appointment of a regular PCCF.

The senior-most officer in the HP State Forest cadre is Sharad Singh Negi from the 1980 batch, who is currently Director General (Forests) and would not be keen on returning to the state. Next in line are CS Singh (1981 batch), Managing Director, HP Forest Corporation and Sinha (1981), posted in Lucknow.

There are three officers from the 1982 batch — Sanjeeva Pandey, Harsh Mitter and Avtar Singh, though their batch mate Vasudeva was made PCCF last year. Those from the 1983 batch are GS Goraya and Negi.