Only 9 of 16 key forest posts in Haryana have IFS officers: Association warns of rule violations, weakening governance

Gurgaon: Haryana has 16 sanctioned deputy conservator of forests (DCF) posts, the senior field positions meant to be held strictly by Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers, but only nine are currently occupied by cadre officers, with the remaining divisions being run by non-cadre Haryana Forest Service (HFS) officers. This is despite several trained IFS officers being available and awaiting posting.

This discrepancy is at the heart of a representation submitted to the chief secretary by the IFS Officers' Association, which said the present arrangement violates established cadre rules. The letter, signed by KC Meena, president of the Haryana IFS Association, said that the situation is not just irregular but a direct breach of the Indian Forest Service (Cadre) Rules, 1966. "These posts sanctioned in the IFS cadre must be filled by IFS officers," the representation stated.


Under the rules, non-cadre officers can be appointed to these posts only in exceptional or temporary circumstances, and only with central govt approval if such an arrangement continues beyond 3 months, approval that the Association said was not obtained.

Haryana's staffing gap comes against the backdrop of the state having the lowest forest and tree cover in the country. At 3.6% forest cover, the state is among those with the least green cover in India. Forest Survey of India (FSI) data shows Gurgaon lost nearly 2.5 sq km of forest cover between 2019 and 2020, while Haryana's total tree cover outside forest areas dropped by 140 sq km during the same period. The FSI 2023 report recorded a further 14 sq km decline in the state's forest cover between 2021 and 2023. With such limited natural cover and persistent annual declines, experts say having trained IFS officers in key field posts is crucial for protection, regeneration and enforcement.

The association warned that the consequences are showing on the ground. With DCFs playing a crucial role in forest protection, illegal activity monitoring, field-team supervision and clearances, the absence of trained cadre officers is affecting the department's efficiency. "When trained officers are not placed in these posts, routine enforcement slows down, decision-making weakens, and overall forest governance suffers," the letter noted.

The letter also flagged the impact on service morale. Six IFS officers from batches spanning 2013 to 2023 are currently "without posting" or assigned to non-cadre duties, despite field leadership roles being vacant. The prolonged wait, it said, caused "disappointment" among young officers and risks undermining their motivation and confidence early in their careers.

At a structural level, the association said the gap between the approved cadre structure and current postings is widening, threatening long-term forest governance. "Keeping these posts vacant, or filling them with non-cadre officers, undermines the purpose of long-term cadre planning," the representation said.

The letter also hinted at deviations from the Civil Services Board guidelines, which were introduced to ensure transparent, standardised posting processes.

Calling the lapse serious, the association urged the state to immediately post all waiting IFS officers and ensure that cadre posts are held by cadre officers. Any continued deviation, it cautioned, could weaken the forest administration further "at a time when the state faces increasing challenges related to conservation and environmental regulation."

A copy of the representation was also sent to the additional chief secretary of the environment, forest and wildlife department.