J&K: Girdawar, forest guard suspended for dereliction of duty

Jammu: A revenue official and a forest guard have been suspended in Jammu and Kashmir’s Samba and Doda districts for alleged dereliction of duty, officials said.

In Samba, Deputy Commissioner Ayushi Soodan ordered the suspension of girdawar Pankaj Singh Jamwal for failing to complete digitisation of revenue records within the stipulated time despite repeated directions. An official order stated that no *jamabandis* (land records) were digitised in Patwar Halqa Smailpur between April 8 and April 15.

“The conduct of the official reflects gross negligence and dereliction of duty,” the order said.

Pending inquiry, Jamwal has been attached to the office of Tehsildar Samba. The Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Vijaypur has been appointed as inquiry officer and asked to submit a report within 15 days.

In Doda, forest department beat guard Mushtaq Ahmed was also suspended after a vehicle carrying illegal deodar timber was seized in the Bhadarwah area.

Officials said a joint team of Forest Protection Force and territorial staff of Neru range intercepted a vehicle loaded with 20 deodar green scants during the intervening night of April 21 and 22 at village Jalga.

During the operation, the beat guard was found travelling on the same route in his personal vehicle, and a mechanical cutter was recovered from him.

He has been attached to the Divisional Forest Office, Bhadarwah, pending inquiry. A detailed probe has been ordered to trace the timber source and fix responsibility within a week.