Karnataka: Facing Public Pressure, CM Kumaraswamy Stalls Transfer Of Honest Forest Officer

IFS officer Ravindra Kumar, who faced a transfer from his post of Assistant Conservator of Forests in Bengaluru, may be all set to return, as Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy may reverse the order. Several activists announced that they will go on protest against the transfer given to Kumar, after which Kumaraswamy recalled the order.

After the intervention of Forest Minister R Shankar, the replacing officer has been asked not to assume charge in place of Kumar. However, the transfer order has not been officially revoked as of now.

The News Minute quoted several activists who said that Ravindra Kumar has been ordered transferred after he recovered 130 acres of encroached forest land. His transfer is said to have been insisted upon by law makers who are affected by Kumar’s uprightness.

It is reported that the officer was in the end process of recovering 70 more acres of reserve forest land at Turahalli and 45 acres at Anekal. The News Minute quoted former ACF Lakshminarayanan as saying, “He was saving the environment and had started a war against encroachment. There were a lot of issues, but he fought against politicians, bureaucrats and muscle men alike.”

Several leaders from the Opposition party have been tweeting in support of the officer.