Absentee officer reinstated, in line for promotion
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 16 2016: In an unprecedented development, a 1987 batch IFoS officer of MT cadre �whose name is reportedly deleted from the Civil List of IFoS officials published every year by Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change since 2011 � has now been reinstated against rules and regulations.

Besides, he is now posted as Dy Conservator of Forest (Working Plan) against non-vacant post.

A highly reliable source said that SK Srivastava, 1987 batch of IFoS, Manipur � Tripura cadre is also likely to be promoted to the rank of Additional PPCF in a few week's time through by holding special DPC on consecutive days.

The new development has come despite assurance by the State CM on the floor of the Assembly in June/July 2015 that investigation on the matter was on.

SK Srivastava was absent from duty without any authority for more than six years and seven months as per DP's letter dated Oct 4, 2014.Srivastava proceeded on Central deputation in 1996 to Rural Development Ministry, GOI.

He returned to Manipur on February 26, 2001 and submitted his joining report but left the very next day on Feb 27, 2001 by quoting Govt of Manipur DP's Order No 4/15/89/-IFS/DP dated Feb 27, 2001 for deputation to Small Farmers Agriculture Consortium (SFAC), Delhi.

This is unprecedented as All India Service (AIS) officers are required to serve in the State for at least two years (cooling off period) before applying for deputation again.

Now the DP's order quoted by the official could not be traced in the file concerned.

No file was processed for issue of this order, the source said.

After 2008, he did not return to the State and went 'missing.' His name was deleted from Civil List of IFoS officials published every year by Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change since 2011.After bifurcation of MT cadres and allocation of AIS to the two States, his name is not found either in Manipur or Tripura, it said.

This means that the Govt of India assumed that the officer is no more a member of the service.

Ironically, he resurfaced and submitted his joining report to the Additional CS (not to the PCCF) on Sept 8, 2014 by quoting DP's order dated May 14, 2015 ! The issue was raised in the State Assembly in June/July 2015.The CM had assured the House that investigation was on.

The State Govt again wrote a very damning letter to the Secretary, GoI, Ministry of Environment and Forests on Oct 4, 2014 enumerating Srivastava's deputation to various offices from Jan 17, 1996 to Dec 24, 2004.The DP's letter stated that the State Govt has no knowledge about his deputation to a German company, GIZ/GTZ and the State Govt had not given him the NOC to join GTZ.

It also pointed out that the NOC issued by the Ministry was never received by the State Govt.The NOC issued by the Ministry clearly mentioned that he was directed to report to the State Govt before joining GTZ which he never complied, the DP's letter mentioned while also counting his period of absence from Jan 30, 2008 and put his overstay at 6 years and 7 months.

Under Secretary (DP) on Jan 23, 2015 again wrote to the Additional CS (Forest and Environment) stating that Srivastava was absent from duty from Jan 30, 2008 and his whereabouts was not known.

He reported to the Addl CS on Sept 8, 2014 which is not accepted by the State Govt till date.

The letter also stated that Ministry of Environment and Forests, GoI was requested to take action against the officer for his unauthorised absence.

In a sudden turn of events, the previous Chief Secretary had issued an order on May 14, 2015 enumerating all the irregularities/misdemeanour of the officer stating that his explanation was not acceptable.

The CS issued strict warning but at the same time regularised his unauthorised absence from Jan 1, 2014 to Sept 7, 2014 by granting various kinds of leave including extra ordinary leave of 117 days.

The source further conveyed the need for a House Committee to probe the 'unholy episode' to unravel the murky role of high ranking officers in the Forest Dept and in the State Secretariat who misled the political executives to take this unwise and illegal decision against all established rules and norms and fix responsibility.

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