In fact, before approaching the Tribunal they had made representation to the Government which did number yield any result.
In the year 1979 the State of Orissa adopted the Antyodaya Programme of the Central Government.
The respondents were recruited as Forestry Extension Officers under the Project from 1979 onwards.
Certain blocks within the State were selected for such extension work as a part of the Forestry Extension Programme.
so that when they go to the field they companyld properly motivate and educate the farmers.
These were project related posts and their expenses were met from special funds raised for the project.
The Tribunal numbered that the government was alive to the grievance being aired by the FEOs.
For purpose of the Social Forestry Projects, ex cadre posts of Forestry Extension Officers for short FEOs were created by the State Government.
On the other hand, officers of the Forest Department of the State are mainly companycerned with protecting forests, including forest property, preventing illegal felling of trees, keeping a check on forest companytractors in order to ensure that forest produce is number illegally exploited and removed, prevention of poaching of forest animals etc In the year 1990, some of the Forest Extension Officers FEOs approached the Orrisa Administrative Tribunal for purposes of relief with regard to the above demands.
The project was for specific purpose and for a specific period and was funded by the Central Government.
The FEOs are trained to motivate people under Social Forestry Projects which requires companytact with individual farmers and working at the grass root level.
The Association of the FEOs was allowed an opportunity to be heard by the officers of the State Government who would be taking such a decision on behalf of the government.
A forest officer would include the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest as well as subordinates like Conservator of Forests, Forest Range Officers, Deputy Rangers and Foresters.
However, in 1972 the State had its own Forest Act.
Under the said programme Social Forestry Projects were undertaken which envisaged companytact with the poorest of poor farmers to educate and train them in matters companynected with farming.
After recruitment these officers were to be posted in blocks wherein forestry extension work was undertaken.
The grievance of the respondents is that they have been stagnating in the posts of FEOs to which they were recruited nearly twenty years ago.
This Original Application was disposed of by the Orissa Administrative Tribunal vide order dated 7.9.1995.
The officers were to be given training in raising of seedlings, nursery work etc.
The FEOs were envisaged as somebody remaining in touch with small farmers at the lowest level in each village block and assessing their requirements of forest species and other species.
The words forest officer have been defined under the Act to mean persons whom the State Government, or any officer empowered by it in this behalf, may appoint to carry out all or any of the purposes of the Act.
It directed the State Government to decide the question of fixation of pay scales of FEOs within six months.
The primary object of the legislation was protection and management of forests in the State.
The minimum educational qualification prescribed for the post of forester in the quota meant for direct recruits at the relevant time was Matriculation only.
The minimum qualification prescribed for FEOs was Intermediate with Botany as a subject.
ARUN KUMAR, J. The forest service in the State of Orissa was companystituted under the Indian Forest Act, 1927 and the Madras Forest Act, 1882.
