Chennai: At least two IFS officers, including the country’s first woman forest officer Aruna Basu Sarcar and an all India UPSC rank holder Rama Subramanian are now posted to insignificant posts by the state administrators or deprived of their due promotions. According to informed sources, these are just case laws and there are more examples in the forest department. Ms Aruna holding the PCCF cadre rank is the chairperson of less known Arasu Rubber Corporation and she was not paid her salary for months. After the high court pulled up the state, she was awarded an irrelevant post for her seniority. Similarly, there are DFOs awaiting promotion for years.
“The woman officer is known for her integrity and her tough stand against timber mafia during her stint as conservator and DFO. Ms Sarcar had always said a big no to anything against the welfare of state forests. This caused her severe hardship, fighting legal battle against the state in both high court and the Supreme Court", said an informed officer, adding that a few officers who are on central deputation are also hesitant to return to TN, the cadre state, due to favouritism in awarding posts.There is no value for seniority in the department. In other states the promotions are automatically given to IFS officers, but in Tamil Nadu the files both related to the forest and staff welfare progress at snail pace, rued another officer.
