Major reshuffle in JK forest dept: 14 officers transferred; details here

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir administration has ordered the transfer and posting of 14 officers in the forest department, with immediate effect.

The decision, aimed at streamlining operations and improving efficiency, was announced through government order Ilrd JK (FST) of 2025, issued by the Department of Forest, Ecology & Environment.

According to the order signed by Commissioner/Secretary Sheetal Nanda (IAS), several Indian Forest Service (IFS) and Divisional Forest Officers (DFOs) have been reassigned key roles across various forest divisions in the Union Territory.

Dr M K Kumar, IFS (AGMUT:2006), currently serving as Chief Conservator of Forests, Jammu, will also take charge as Regional Director, Social Forestry, Jammu. Similarly, Irfan Rasool Wani, IFS (AGMUT:2006), Chief Conservator of Forests, Kashmir, will hold the additional charge of Regional Director, Social Forestry, Kashmir.

Among the major changes, Satyendra Maurya (IFS: 2020) has been shifted from DFO Baramulla to DFO Udhampur, while Shahbazul Rahman (IFS: 2022), DFO Mahore, has been posted as DFO Doda. Bishan Dass, DCF, previously GM P Jammu, has been made DFO Ramban, replacing Ankit Sinha, IFS (AGMUT:2022), who will now report to the PCCF/HoFF awaiting further posting.

Zahid Aslam Moghal, who was under orders of transfer to Jammu as Regional Director, Ecology and Environment, will now serve as DFO Baramulla.  Owais Farooq Mir, DCF, has been posted as DFO Kamraj, and Vijay Kumar Verma will now serve as DFO Mahore.

Further, Mahesh Kumar (ACF) will now oversee the Kishtwar Forest Division, while Mohammad Ashraf Kattoo (ACF) has been given charge of DFO Anantnag. Himayun Kabir Qadri (ACF) moves to Lidder Forest Division.

Other notable transfers include Qamar Rashid Khan, now in charge of DFO Shopian, Mushtaq Hussain Choudhary as DFO Poonch, and Naveed Iqbal as DFO Rajouri.

The department has urged all concerned officers to assume their new responsibilities without delay. The reshuffle is seen as part of the administration’s efforts to ensure better management and ecological oversight across the region’s forest zones.

The order was issued in the interest of administrative efficiency and has the approval of the Lieutenant Governor.