Haryana's Forest Governance in Jeopardy as IFS Posts Remain Unfilled
In a significant development, the Haryana forest department is grappling with a severe staffing crisis, with key leadership positions meant for Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers being occupied by non-cadre personnel. This issue has sparked serious concerns about the state's ability to manage its already dwindling forest resources effectively.
Violation of Cadre Rules and Staffing Discrepancies
Haryana has a total of 16 sanctioned deputy conservator of forests (DCF) posts, which are senior field positions designated strictly for IFS officers. However, only nine of these posts are currently held by cadre officers. The remaining seven divisions are being managed by officers from the Haryana Forest Service (HFS), who are not part of the IFS cadre.
This arrangement has been flagged as a direct violation of the Indian Forest Service (Cadre) Rules, 1966. In a representation submitted to the chief secretary, the IFS Officers' Association, led by president KC Meena, emphasized that these posts must be filled exclusively by IFS officers. The letter stated that the current situation is not merely irregular but constitutes a breach of established regulations.
Under the cadre rules, non-cadre officers can only be appointed to such positions under exceptional or temporary circumstances. Furthermore, if such an arrangement extends beyond three months, central government approval is mandatory. The association has pointed out that this approval was not obtained, highlighting a procedural lapse.
Impact on Forest Conservation and Governance
The staffing gap comes at a critical time for Haryana, which has the lowest forest and tree cover in India, standing at a mere 3.6%. Data from the Forest Survey of India (FSI) reveals alarming trends: Gurgaon lost nearly 2.5 square kilometers of forest cover between 2019 and 2020, while the state's total tree cover outside forest areas dropped by 140 square kilometers during the same period. The FSI 2023 report further recorded a decline of 14 square kilometers in forest cover between 2021 and 2023.
Experts argue that having trained IFS officers in key field posts is essential for protection, regeneration, and enforcement efforts. DCFs play a crucial role in forest protection, monitoring illegal activities, supervising field teams, and handling clearances. The absence of cadre officers is reportedly affecting the department's efficiency, slowing down routine enforcement, weakening decision-making, and overall forest governance.
Morale and Structural Concerns
The representation also highlighted the adverse impact on service morale. Currently, six IFS officers from batches spanning 2013 to 2023 are either without posting or assigned to non-cadre duties, despite vacancies in field leadership roles. This prolonged wait has caused disappointment among young officers, potentially undermining their motivation and confidence early in their careers.
At a structural level, the gap between the approved cadre structure and current postings is widening, threatening long-term forest governance. The association warned that keeping these posts vacant or filling them with non-cadre officers undermines the purpose of long-term cadre planning. Additionally, the letter hinted at deviations from Civil Services Board guidelines, which are designed to ensure transparent and standardized posting processes.
Call for Immediate Action
Describing the lapse as serious, the association has urged the state government to immediately post all waiting IFS officers and ensure that cadre posts are held by cadre officers. It cautioned that any continued deviation could further weaken forest administration, especially at a time when Haryana faces increasing challenges related to conservation and environmental regulation.
A copy of the representation was also sent to the additional chief secretary of the environment, forest, and wildlife department, underscoring the urgency of addressing this issue to safeguard the state's environmental future.
