JAMMU, OCT 24: The Jammu and Kashmir Forest Department has ordered a fresh administrative reshuffle involving 15 Range Officers and Foresters, assigning new responsibilities across multiple territorial, social forestry, wildlife and other departmental units to streamline field-level administration and address existing vacancies.
The transfers and assignments have been ordered through Forest Order No. 221 of 2026, dated October 24, 2026, issued by the Office of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force (HoFF), Jammu and Kashmir. The order partially modifies the earlier Forest Order No. 202 of 2026, dated September 29, 2026, and directs that the revised arrangements take effect immediately.
The administrative exercise covers several divisions and ranges across Jammu province, including Reasi, Rajouri, Kathua, Udhampur, Mahore, Billawar, Poonch, Jammu and Bhaderwah, besides assignments under Wildlife Division Jammu, Urban Forestry Division Jammu and Social Forestry Division Kathua.
As part of the reshuffle, Anil Kumar Bhagat, Range Officer, Thakrakote Range, Reasi Forest Division, has been transferred and posted as Range Officer, Kalakote Range, Rajouri Forest Division. Avtar Singh Kurhan, Forester, who was looking after the Demarcation Division in Jammu, has been assigned the look-after charge of Thakrakote Range in Reasi Forest Division in place of Bhagat.
Sanjeev Singh, Forester (DDR), who was looking after the Anti-Polythene Check Post at Lakhanpur in Kathua Forest Division, has been assigned the look-after charge of SF Range Billawar, Social Forestry Division Kathua, vice Sukhdev.
Kashif Javed, Forester (DDR), presently looking after Udhampur Range, Batote Range and MFP, has been assigned the look-after charge of Panchari Range in Udhampur Forest Division, vice Shakti Bahadur.
Pawan Sharma, Forester, who was looking after Jambu Zoo Range, has been assigned the look-after charge of Jasrota Range in Kathua Forest Division, vice Munish Gupta-II.
In another change, Armandeep Singh, Forester, presently looking after Agrostology Range, Rajouri, has been assigned the look-after charge of the Anti-Polythene Check Post at Lakhanpur, Kathua Forest Division, vice Sanjeev Singh.
Varinder Singh Salathia, Forester, who was looking after Jindrah Range in Jammu Forest Division, has been assigned the look-after charge of ETF Range, Basholi, under ETF Jammu Circle, vice R.D. Singh.
Naresh Kumar Sharma, Forester, presently looking after Reasi Range in Reasi Forest Division, has been assigned the look-after charge of Ramkot Range in Billawar Forest Division, vice Sanjeev Kumar.
Surinder Singh Chib, Forester, who was looking after Soil Range in Batote Forest Division, has been assigned the look-after charge of Sudh Mahadev Range under Wildlife Division Jammu, vice Mahesh Abrol.
Munish Gupta-II, Forester, presently looking after Jasrota Range in Kathua Forest Division, has been assigned the look-after charge of Social Forestry Range, Hiranagar, under Social Forestry Division Kathua, vice Ashok Raina.
Naseer Ahmed Malik, Forester, who was looking after Agrostology Range in Udhampur, has been assigned the look-after charge of Gulabgarh Range in Mahore Forest Division, vice Amrik Singh.
The order also makes changes in the administrative arrangements for Poonch and other areas.
Mohammad Rafi, Forester, presently looking after Kalakote Range in Rajouri Forest Division, has been assigned the look-after charge of Mendhar Range in Poonch Forest Division, relieving Aunag Zeb of the additional charge.
Mohd Saleem Choudhary, Forester, presently posted in the office of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force, Jammu and Kashmir, has been assigned the look-after charge of Jindrah Range in Jammu Forest Division, vice Varinder Singh Salathia.
Surjit Singh, Forester and Block Officer, Sumah Block, Jammu Forest Division, has been assigned the look-after charge of Estate Range under Urban Forestry Division Jammu against an available vacancy.
Similarly, Sajid Navaid, Forester and Block Officer, Puneja-II, Bhaderwah Forest Division, has been assigned the look-after charge of Soil Range in Bhaderwah Forest Division against an available vacancy.
The assignments cover a mix of territorial ranges, social forestry units, wildlife administration and specialised departmental establishments. Several officials have been assigned responsibilities previously managed by other officers, while two assignments have specifically been made against available vacancies.
The order has laid down specific conditions governing the revised arrangements. It states that the assignments will not confer any preferential right on the officers or officials concerned to claim promotion. Any promotion will be considered in accordance with the applicable service rules.
The department has also clarified that the transfers and postings will remain without prejudice to the outcome of any writ petition, if pending, before a competent court.
Officials who have been displaced from their existing places of posting but have not been assigned a new posting under the order have been directed to report to their respective Heads of Department for further instructions.
The revised arrangements have been made with immediate effect, requiring the concerned officials to assume their assigned responsibilities in accordance with the departmental directions.
The latest reshuffle represents an administrative reorganisation of field-level responsibilities across multiple divisions and ranges in Jammu and Kashmir. By reallocating officers and assigning look-after charges, the department has put a revised arrangement in place for the management of its territorial and specialised units, while keeping promotion rights subject to the prescribed rules and procedures.
