At a time when Haryana is struggling with one of the lowest forest covers in the country, a staffing imbalance in the state’s forest department has sparked concern among Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers.
Out of 16 sanctioned Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) posts — key field-level positions meant exclusively for IFS cadre officers — only nine are currently held by IFS officers. The remaining seven divisions are being managed by non-cadre Haryana Forest Service (HFS) officers, even as several trained IFS officers remain without proper postings.
The issue has been formally raised by the Haryana IFS Officers’ Association in a representation submitted to the Chief Secretary. In the letter, signed by Association President K.C. Meena, it has been stated that the current arrangement violates the provisions of the Indian Forest Service Cadre Rules, 1966.
The Association emphasized that posts sanctioned under the IFS cadre must be filled by IFS officers.
Low Forest Cover Adds to Concern
Under cadre rules, non-cadre officers may be appointed to such posts only in exceptional or temporary circumstances. If the arrangement continues beyond three months, prior approval from the Central Government is mandatory. The Association has alleged that no such approval has been obtained in this case.
The staffing issue becomes more critical in light of Haryana’s fragile forest and green cover situation. According to data from the Forest Survey of India (FSI), the state has only 3.6% forest cover — the lowest in the country.
Gurgaon reportedly lost nearly 2.5 square kilometres of forest cover between 2019 and 2020. The FSI 2023 report further recorded a decline of 14 square kilometres in forest cover between 2021 and 2023. Additionally, tree cover outside designated forest areas has also seen a significant reduction.
Governance and Administrative Concerns
The Association has pointed out that DCFs play a crucial role in enforcement, forest protection, regulatory clearances, and supervision of field staff. The absence of trained cadre officers in these positions, it warned, could weaken governance and delay key administrative decisions.
Currently, six IFS officers from batches between 2013 and 2023 are reportedly awaiting appropriate postings.
Describing the matter as serious, the Association has urged immediate corrective measures. It cautioned that continued deviation from cadre rules could further weaken forest administration in a state already facing mounting environmental challenges.
