Uttarakhand: This forest officer was suspended, order issued

The case of sexual harassment of female forest inspector by Ajay Kumar Dhyani, Forest Officer, working in Bela Range under Corbett Tiger Reserve, Ramnagar, has been received from the Director, Corbett Tiger Reserve, Ramnagar, letter number 2625/1-1 dated 4th April. According to their report, on the related complaint, under the Office Level Sexual Harassment (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 of women officers and employees working in state services, the investigation of the case is in progress by the Internal Complaint Committee, Corbett Tiger Reserve, Ramnagar. . Allegations of serious nature have been made in the complaint.

Chief Conservator of Forests, Wildlife / Chief Wildlife Warden, Uttarakhand, adopting the policy of zero tolerance in the case, found Ajay Kumar Dhyani, Forest Range Officer, prima facie guilty by the Internal Complaint Committee and Director, Corbett Tiger Reserve, Ramnagar, and ordered him to be dismissed from the Uttaranchal State Employees’ Service. Considering him guilty of violation of Conduct Rules, 2002, a proposal has been sent with a recommendation to suspend him with immediate effect.

Under Rule 4(1) of Uttaranchal Government Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 2003, Ajay Kumar Dhyani, Forest Range Officer, is suspended with immediate effect.

During the period of suspension, the amount of subsistence allowance equal to the amount of leave salary payable on half pay will be payable to Ajay Kumar Dhyani, Forest Range Officer, as per the provisions of Basic Rule 53 of Financial Rules Collection Volume-2, Part-2 to 4. Dearness allowance on the amount of subsistence allowance, if payable on such leave pay, will also be admissible to them, but no dearness allowance along with subsistence allowance will be payable to such officers, who are getting dearness allowance or dearness allowance along with the pay received before suspension. Marginal adjustment was not received.

Other compensatory allowances based on the salary received on the date of suspension will also be payable during the period of suspension on the condition that it is satisfied that the expenditure is actually being incurred by him on the item for which the said compensatory allowance is admissible.

The items mentioned in paragraph 2 above will be paid only when Ajay Kumar Dhyani, Forest Range Officer, submits a certificate to the effect that he is not engaged in any other employment, business or profession.

During the suspension period, Ajay Kumar Dhyani, Forest Range Officer, will remain attached to the office of Divisional Forest Officer, Kalagarh Tiger Reserve Division, Lansdowne.