Srinagar: The induction of local officers from Jammu & Kashmir into the prestigious Indian Forest Service (IFS) has been in deep freeze over a staggering 13 years without a single promotion quota appointment.
Documents reveal that the process has remained paralysed since 2013, tangled in prolonged litigation over the constitution of a valid “State Forest Service.”
“In the case of J&K, the induction process has remained stalled since 2013 due to prolonged litigation regarding the constitution of a valid ‘State Forest Service’,” reads report quoting official documents.
The recruitment into Indian Forest Service (IFS) is governed by two methods: direct recruitment through Union Public Service Commission exams and induction via promotion quota.
While 66% of posts are filled via UPSC civil services examination, the remaining 33% are reserved for promotion of eligible officers State Forest Services.
According to documents, the Union Ministry of Forest Environment and Climate Change has not determined IFS promotion quota vacancies for J&K beyond Select Year 2012, due to the legal and procedural constraints.
In a ray of hope that the issue could be sorted out, the Division Bench of High Court settled the matter vide judgment dated 21.11.2024.
After the judgement, the proposal for constitution of State Forest service with the approval of the Competent Authority was forwarded to the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Government of India for approval December 11, 2025.
“Upon approval and notification of the State Forest Service, the process for determination and filling up of promotion quota vacancies in IFS will be initiated,” the documents state.
The Union Ministry of Forest, Environment and Climate Change examined the matter and found that only J&K Forest (Gazetted) Service (Territorial) is satisfying the recruitment, training and other criteria envisaged in the Ministry notification No.3-17/99-RT(1) dated 21. 06. 2004.
“Therefore, the state Government is requested to submit the proposal for consideration of J&K Forest(Gazetted) Service( Territorial) under Rule 2(g) of IFS (Recruitment) Rules, 1996,” reads the letter written to J&K Chief Secretary to MoEF&CC.
Rule 2(g) of the Indian Forest Service (Recruitment) Rules, 1996 defines what constitutes a “State Forest Service” for the purpose of induction into the IFS under the 33% promotion quota.
