CB seeks courts permission to probe ‘appointment’ of Forest Inspector in 1997
Srinagar: The J&K Crime Branch has appealed the Court for allowing them to probe an appointment made by the then Director Forest department in 1997 when Farooq Abdullah led National Conference (NC), ruled the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.
As per the official documents available with ‘Kashmir Vision’, Mohammad Afzal Mir was appointed as Inspector in Forest Protection Force directly by the then Director in 1997.
Around 24 years after his appointment, the officer was attached in 2021 after the J&K Crime Branch started investigation into his appointment in the department.
“His appointment was under question as he was directly appointed by the director without appearing in any exam conducted by JKSSB,” an official said.
Meanwhile, as per the order, the officer was posted in the office of Deputy Director Forest Protection Force Gamma Unit K-07 in Baramulla and was subsequently transferred to Gamma Unit K-04 Pulwama in 1997.
Last year, the officer was attached in the office of Deputy Director Forest Protection Force Gamma Unit K-08 Bandipora and it was ordered that his salary during the attachment period shall be drawn as per LPC.
The attachment order reads that the officer was relieved by the Deputy Director Anantnag in 1999 for further duties in the office of Divisional Forest Officer Kamrai Forest Division Kupwara.
“Thereafter he served in various Wings of the Forest Department and was relieved by the Managing Director, Forest Corporation,” the order reads.
The attachment order issued in 2021 reads that the relieving order issued by the Managing Director Forest Corporation quoted that the Crime Branch has advised for initiating departmental enquiry against the official regarding his ‘fake’ appointment.
“Pending enquiry into the matter Mohammad Afzal Mir. FPF Inspector is hereby attached with the office of Deputy Director Forest Protection Force Gamma Unit K-08 Bandipora and his salary during the attachment period shall be drawn as per LPC,” the order reads.
Notably, the official has got his service book verified and it is alleged that the verification has been done in a dubious manner raising questions on authentication of his service in the department.
“His appointment is being probed but he has got the Court orders which state that his appointment is not forged and the Court has given directions for releasing of his salary as well,” an official in the Forest Department told ‘Kashmir Vision’.
He however, said the Crime Branch has appealed the Court to allow them to probe his appointment given the fact that the official in question has been recruited directly by the then director in 1997.
KV News
