The Rajasthan High Court has stepped into a contentious dispute involving allegations of fraudulent acquisition of disability benefits by a state forest service officer, a move that allegedly provided undue promotion advantages. A single-judge bench of Justice Ashok Kumar Jain issued notices on Friday, seeking responses from multiple authorities.
Petitioners Challenge Alleged Fraudulent Benefits
The court's action came on a petition filed by two Rajasthan Forest Service (RFS) officers, Sarita Kumari and Sunil Kumar Gaur, posted in Jaipur and Kota respectively. They have challenged the alleged fraudulent grant of disability benefits to a fellow officer, Jagdeep Singh Dahiya. The petitioners contend that Dahiya was appointed alongside them but was not selected by the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) under the disabled category during initial recruitment and did not possess the benchmark disability required for reservation benefits at that time.
According to the petition, for years, Dahiya's name was never listed under the disabled category in any seniority lists or official orders. This changed unexpectedly on April 1, 2024. The counsel for the petitioners, Advocate Tanveer Ahmed, stated that in the order issued for granting selection scale against vacancies for 2021–2022, Dahiya was suddenly granted disability benefits and considered under the disabled quota. This decision led to his placement above the petitioners in seniority, despite them having higher merit ranking and seniority from the original RPSC selection.
Serious Allegations of System Manipulation
The petition levels serious accusations against the respondent officer. It alleges that while posted at Aranya Bhavan, Dahiya manipulated the system to fraudulently procure a disability certificate. This alleged act formed the basis for him to later claim and receive benefits reserved for persons with disabilities.
The consequences of this altered seniority position are significant. Advocate Ahmed highlighted that by securing this inflated seniority, Dahiya has now become eligible for consideration for promotion to the prestigious Indian Forest Service (IFS). A Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) for this promotion is likely to be convened in December 2025 or even earlier, potentially fast-tracking his career based on the contested benefits.
Court Seeks Replies from Key Authorities
Recognizing the gravity of the allegations and their impact on service rules and fairness, Justice Jain's bench has issued formal notices to several key bodies. These include:
- The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
- The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
- The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests of the Rajasthan government
- The Department of Personnel (DoP), Rajasthan
- The concerned RFS officer, Jagdeep Singh Dahiya
The court has directed these parties to file their replies to the petition, setting the stage for a legal examination of the claims of manipulation and fraud within the forest service's appointment and promotion processes.
This case puts a spotlight on the integrity of reservation benefits and seniority systems in government services. The outcome could have major implications for the careers of the involved officers and set a precedent for how similar allegations are handled in the future. The next steps in the legal proceeding will depend on the replies filed by the notified authorities.
