The fate of 23 Indian Forest Services (IFS) officers, promoted by the previous Government in Himachal Pradesh, hangs in balance as the present Government is planning to demote them. The IFS officers were promoted as Additional Principal Chief Conservator of forests.
A senior Government official said on Saturday, “The Government has taken a decision to demote them as they were promoted by violating the rules.” “But before demoting them, the Government wants to give them a chance to explain their viewpoint,” said the official.
Forest Minister Thakur Singh Bharmouri informed that the Government has twice sought legal opinion and it was averse to the officers’ promotions. “There is no problem in reverting them,” he said.
Previous Government had promoted 30 IFS officers, all of them from the 1984 and 1985 IFS batch. They were promoted in two batches in July and August last year. The Government said they were promoted on completing 25 years of service, mandatory for granting promotion.