Nagpur: The Maharashtra Administrative Tribunal (MAT), Nagpur Bench on Wednesday directed the Range Forest Officer (RFO), for issuing orders to the Khapas to take unilateral charge from the Forester despite a stay by the Tribunal on their transfer.
On August 8 (Sunday) Bharat Singh Hada, Deputy Conservator of Forests (DECF), Nagpur had issued transfer orders of 38 forest workers. These orders were received online on August 10.
However, some forest workers challenged his transfer to MAT and got a stay on 11 August. One of them was PR Madke, who is currently posted at Khubala in Khapa range.
Madke (49) was transferred to Narhar in western Pench range Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR). Despite the ban on his posting, RFO SG Athawale Instructed the new officer BV Lonare to take charge unilaterally.
As Madke’s transfer was put on hold, he continued to work in Khubala and filed a case against illegal logging on August 21.
Nevertheless, RFO Athawale sought guidance from DYCF in the matter. Based on his advice, the RFO on 24 August allowed Lonare to take unilateral charge of the Khubala round.
Victim Madke filed contempt petition in MAT seeking relief. Vice President of MAT hearing on the application on Wednesday Shree Bhagwan expressed dismay and set aside the order issued by the RFO.
The order of RFO itself is questionable. It added that Mudke has been relieved of charge on August 10, but the fact remains that the orders were received online on the same day. Secondly, the RFO knew that Madke’s order had been stayed, so why was the guidance sought from the DYCF?
As per the guidelines, the staff should be deployed on rotation in the three wings of the department – Territorial, Wildlife and Social Forestry – but it has been found that eight foresters were redeployed in the same wing.
Madke had earlier worked in Narhar between 1997-2001. He was posted there again. In his 24 years of service, he has worked in wildlife for 12 years.
On August 8 (Sunday) Bharat Singh Hada, Deputy Conservator of Forests (DECF), Nagpur had issued transfer orders of 38 forest workers. These orders were received online on August 10.
However, some forest workers challenged his transfer to MAT and got a stay on 11 August. One of them was PR Madke, who is currently posted at Khubala in Khapa range.
Madke (49) was transferred to Narhar in western Pench range Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR). Despite the ban on his posting, RFO SG Athawale Instructed the new officer BV Lonare to take charge unilaterally.
As Madke’s transfer was put on hold, he continued to work in Khubala and filed a case against illegal logging on August 21.
Nevertheless, RFO Athawale sought guidance from DYCF in the matter. Based on his advice, the RFO on 24 August allowed Lonare to take unilateral charge of the Khubala round.
Victim Madke filed contempt petition in MAT seeking relief. Vice President of MAT hearing on the application on Wednesday Shree Bhagwan expressed dismay and set aside the order issued by the RFO.
The order of RFO itself is questionable. It added that Mudke has been relieved of charge on August 10, but the fact remains that the orders were received online on the same day. Secondly, the RFO knew that Madke’s order had been stayed, so why was the guidance sought from the DYCF?
As per the guidelines, the staff should be deployed on rotation in the three wings of the department – Territorial, Wildlife and Social Forestry – but it has been found that eight foresters were redeployed in the same wing.
Madke had earlier worked in Narhar between 1997-2001. He was posted there again. In his 24 years of service, he has worked in wildlife for 12 years.
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