The lok Ayog had recommended registration of FIR against half-a-dozen forest officers in corruption cases, but the Government, inspite of FIR, ordered departmental enquiry against these officers. Similarly, even after the recommendation of lok Ayog against an officer in another case, the department closed the case after warning the officer.
Chief Minister Raman Singh on Tuesday tabled the lok Ayog report for the year 2011-12 in the House. Along with the annual report, information about the action taken by the Government on the recommendations has also been given. A resident of Bilaspur, Jagadish Shrivastava had made a complaint with the lok Ayog against the then DFO of Jashpur SP Rajak that the DFO, putting all the rules and regulations at stake, had issued a cheque worth Rs 1.59 crore, just before his transfer.
He said that Rajak’s successor, DFO OP Yadav had informed about the whole issue to conservator of forest Tapesh Jha, but no further action has been taken in this case. The complainant said that Rs 1 crore cheque had been issued based on a demand letter. The Ayog probed the case and on confirmation of corruption, recommended to register case under section 409 and 120(B) against DFO SP Rajak, then forest range officers RP Singh and BS Paikra, PD Gupta, Kuwarpur and BR Tonde. The Ayog had also recommended to recover Rs 13.76 lakh from RP Singh and Rajak, Rs 98,000 from DS Paikra and Rajak and Rs 9 lakh from PD Gupta and SP Rajak.
The Ayog had recommended not to give any such posting to forest officers SP Rajak, Anil Kumar Singh, BR Tonde, BS Paikra, PD Gupta and RP Singh, who held financial and administrative power. In the action taken report, it was said that orders for departmental enquiry against Rajak, Paikra, Gupta, BR Tonde and RP Singh have been issued. However, case file against Anil Kumar Singh has been closed.
Similarly, in the case of appointment against rules in the State Forest Medicine Board, charge has been established against Bharti Van Seva officer Shirishchandra Agrawal. It was said that Agrawal had not selected Anupam Kumar Tiwari as project coordinator on wrong basis by misusing his power. In this case, the Government had issued a show-cause notice to Agrawal. On getting answer, the show-cause notice has been cancelled, after warning him for future.
Rakesh Shukla had submitted a complaint to lokayukta Organisation, Bhopal, in which, irregularities in the construction works done in 1998 in Narharpur under Kanker forest division by forest range officer G Ramlal Rao was mentioned. He said that the pond construction has been done through labourers on muster roll. Huge mix-up has been done in building construction also. DFO IN Singh and SDO VS lakada in collusion with the range officers were helping in the fake work.
The issue was probed by Chief Technical Examiner also. After the enquiry, range officer G Ramlal Rao, SDO VS lakada and DFO Rajesh Govardhan were found guilty in the case. Disciplinary action against these offices had been recommended, but in reply, the government said that clarification has been taken from Govardhan. Similarly, letter was sent to Principal Chief Conservator of Forest for taking action against lakada and Ramlal Rao.