The Punjab Government has suspended a forester accused of using a fake caste certificate to secure his job. The action was initiated following an order from the Forest and Wildlife Preservation Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak, who mandated a thorough investigation into the allegations against Gulab Singh, a forester with the Office of Divisional Forest Officer in Sri Amritsar Sahib.

The Financial Commissioner (Forest), Krishan Kumar, officially placed Gulab Singh under suspension after the probe’s preliminary findings confirmed the misconduct.

It was brought to the attention of the Forest and Wildlife Preservation Department that Gulab Singh, who belongs to the general category, had been working under the pretense of belonging to the Scheduled Caste (SC) category, supported by a falsified certificate. This revelation prompted an investigation led by the Forest Range Officer in Sri Muktsar Sahib. The preliminary inquiry substantiated the allegations, leading to Gulab Singh's immediate suspension. During the suspension period, his headquarters have been relocated to the office of the Divisional Forest Officer in Gurdaspur.

Minister Kataruchak emphasized the government's commitment to eradicating corruption and maintaining transparency in public service. “This action serves as a stern warning to all public servants that deceit and malpractices will not be tolerated…We are determined to uphold the principles of fairness and integrity in all government departments,” he said.

The investigation into Gulab Singh’s fraudulent activities is ongoing, with a separate, detailed probe already underway. The government has assured that all aspects of the case will be thoroughly examined, and appropriate actions will be taken based on the findings.