SRINAGAR, May 2 (The Chenab Times) – The Jammu & Kashmir Forest Department has issued a significant transfer and posting order for Range Officers and In-Charge Range Officers, aimed at streamlining administrative functions across various forest divisions. The order, issued by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force (HoFF) Suresh K. Gupta, IFS, on April 30, 2025, affects 26 officers and spans multiple regions, including Jammu, Kashmir, and other territorial divisions.
In a detailed directive, Bilal Ahmad Masoodi, previously In-Charge Range Officer at Sopore Range in Kamraj Forest Division, has been reassigned to Kandi Range within the same division. Shakeel Ahmad Shah, who served as Zonal Soil Conservation Officer (ZSCO) in Bandipora, will now take up the role of ZSCO in Tral. Sajad Hussain, formerly In-Charge Range Officer at Thakrai Range in Doda Forest Division, has been transferred to Gool Range in Ramban Forest Division. Aftab Ahmed, previously posted at Gool Range, will now serve as In-Charge Range Officer at Kuntwara Range in Doda Forest Division.
Further, Parvez Ahmad Shagoo, who was In-Charge Range Officer at the Jammu & Kashmir Forest Research Institute (JKFRI), has been moved to the Office of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and HoFF in Srinagar. Irshad Ahmad Giri, previously stationed at Gulabgarh Range in Mahore Forest Division, will now oversee Udil Range in Marwah Forest Division. Abdul Gani Zargar, formerly In-Charge Range Officer at Social Forestry Range in Ramnagar under Udhampur Social Forestry Division, has been reassigned to Marwah Range in Marwah Forest Division. Azad Hussain, who managed the Soil Range in Bhaderwah Forest Division, will take charge of Dachan Range in Marwah Forest Division.
The reshuffle also includes Hukum Singh, previously In-Charge Range Officer at Wildlife Range in Batote/Ramban, who will now serve at Soil Range in Kishtwar Forest Division. Peerzada Masood Ahmad Shah, formerly at DH Pora Range in Kulgam Forest Division, has been transferred to Kuthar Range in Anantnag Forest Division. Sushil Kumar, who was In-Charge Range Officer at Marwah Range in Marwah Forest Division, will now join the Seed Division in Jammu.
Mohit Gupta, previously managing the Soil Range in Marwah Forest Division, has been reassigned to the Resources Survey Division in Jammu. Naveen Singh Bahu, formerly at Bhalesa Range in Bhaderwah Forest Division, will now serve as Technical Officer (TTO) at Toph against an available vacancy. Adil Rashid Shan, previously Technical Officer to the Director of Social Forestry, has been posted as In-Charge Range Officer at Bhalesa Range in Bhaderwah Forest Division. Maroof Hussain Shah, who was attached to the Office of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and HoFF, will now manage Rajouri Range in Rajouri Forest Division.
Tariq Mehmood, previously In-Charge Range Officer at the Demarcation Division in Jammu, has been transferred to Surankote Range in Poonch Forest Division. Arif Mirza, who held the same position at Surankote Range, will now oversee Sunderbani Range in Nowshera Forest Division. Rasik Waheed, formerly ZSCO in Billawar, has been reassigned to Banihal Range in Ramban Forest Division. Sajad Haider Shah, previously at Natour Range in Poonch Forest Division, will now manage the Soil Range in Rajouri Forest Division. Rajesh Abrol, a Range Officer Grade II at the Soil Range in Rajouri, has been transferred to the Resources Survey Division in Jammu.
Mohd. Rafaq, previously In-Charge Range Officer at Agrostology Range in Reasi, will now serve at Talab Tillo Range under the Urban Forestry Division in Jammu. Rajesh Bakshi, who was posted at Thein Conservation Reserve under the Wildlife Department, has been reassigned to Agrostology Range in Reasi. Mukhtar Ahmad Malik, formerly at Surankote Range in the Social Forestry Division of Poonch, will now manage the Soil Range in Kulgam Forest Division. Farooq Ahmad Seer, previously at the Soil Range in Kulgam, has been transferred to the High Altitude Working Forest (HWF) in J.V. Division, Baramulla, against an available vacancy. Mohd. Altaf Hakeem, formerly ZSCO in Kupwara, will now oversee the Soil Range in Pampore under Awantipora Forest Division against an available vacancy. Lastly, Mohd. Ashraf, previously at Demarcation Division-II in Bhaderwah, has been posted to Malhar Range in Billawar Forest Division.
The order specifies that Range Officers or In-Charge Range Officers displaced by this reshuffle will await further posting instructions in the offices of their respective regional Chief Conservators of Forests. The department clarified that temporary assignments of higher responsibilities to Foresters are provisional and do not confer any preferential rights to permanent promotions, which will be determined by the Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) in accordance with existing rules.
The directive has been circulated to key stakeholders, including the Commissioner/Secretary for Forest, Ecology & Environment, all heads of wings under the Department of Forest, Ecology & Environment, Chief Conservators of Forests for Jammu and Kashmir, and all Divisional Forest Officers (Territorial and Non-Territorial) across the region. The order also reaches the OSD to the Minister for Jal Shakti, Forest, Ecology & Environment, and Tribal Affairs, ensuring compliance by all concerned officers.
The Chenab Times News Desk