KOLKATA: An officer is not given a prize posting if an inquiry is pending against him this is the rule. But there are exceptions also.
An ex-field director of Sundarban Tiger Reserve (STR) who was recently removed from his post along with two senior colleagues, after a tiger's carcass was found in a river has been given a plum posting. According to some senior forest department officials, he has got this new post, thanks to his proximity to a senior officer.
Significantly, this has been done before the departmental inquiry into the alleged tiger poaching is over.
By a notification (No. 6676- For/FR/O/G/11P-1/07) dated December 5, Niraj Singhal, who was posted as conservator of forest (development circle), has been made conservator (central circle). Significantly, central circle has always been regarded as one of the most prestigious circles. So, traditionally, the post goes to most competent officers.
Singhal's appointment has raised eyebrows in forest circles, since he had been "removed" from his STR post allegedly for negligence after the tiger death in October.
Along with him, the director of Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve (SBR), Pradip Shukla, and chief wildlife warden S S Bist were also removed. While Bist and Shukla are still holding the posts they had been shifted to after their removal, only Singhal has been chosen for the plum posting.
A senior forest department official said the post given to Singhal makes a mockery of the forest directorate's earlier decision to indict the officer. "You cannot accuse and applause somebody at the same time," he added.
Rumours are doing the rounds that Singhal's removal was just an excuse to shift S S Bist, an reputed officer and known for his expertise and dedication to wildlife, from the Sunderbans. Immediately after the removal of these senior officials from STR, the state forest department ordered a departmental inquiry into their alleged negligence. When contacted, additional principal chief conservator of forest M N Majhi, who has been conducting the probe, said, "The report is yet to be submitted."
Forest minister Ananta Roy said, "It (the awarding of the post to Singhal) might be a routine process. I'll look into it and let you know why it happened." He admitted that such mistake' was avoidable while the inquiry was yet to be completed.
