RANGE FOREST OFFICER IN THE MAHARASHTRA FOREST SERVICE, GROUP 'B' (GAZETTED) (RECRUITMENT) RULES, 2014

PREAMBLE

In exercise of the powers conferred by the proviso to article 309 of Constitution of India and in supersession of the Range Forest Officer in the Maharashtra Forest Service, Group-B (Recruitment) Rules, 1997, the Governor of Maharashtra is hereby pleased to make the following rules regulating recruitment to the post of Range Forest Officer in the Maharashtra Forest Service, Group 'B' (Gazetted) under the Revenue and Forests Department of Government of Maharashtra, namely:

Rule - 1.

These rules may be called the Range Forest Officer in the Maharashtra Forest Service, Group 'B' (Gazetted) (Recruitment) Rules, 2014.

Rule - 2.

In these rules, unless the context requires otherwise,

(a)      "Commission" means the Maharashtra Public Service Commission;

(b)      "Degree" means a degree of a Statutory University;

(c)      "Department" means the Revenue & Forest Department of the Government of Maharashtra;

(d)      "Government" means the Government of Maharashtra;

(e)      "Higher Secondary School Certificate Examination" means the Higher Secondary School Certificate examination conducted by the Divisional Board under the Maharashtra Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Boards Act, 1965 (Mah. XLI of 1965) and it includes any other examination declared by the Government to be equivalent thereto,

(f)       "Secondary School Certificate Examination" means the Secondary School Certificate examination conducted by the Divisional Board under the Maharashtra Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Boards Act, 1965 (Mah. XLI of 1965) and it includes any other examination declared by the Government to be equivalent thereto.

Rule - 3.

Appointment to the post of Range Forest Officer shall be made either,

(a)      by promotion of a suitable person on the basis of seniority subject to fitness from amongst the persons holding the post of Forester, having minimum 3 years regular service in that post and have passed Secondary School Certificate Examination;

OR

(b)      by selection of a suitable person holding the post of Forester, on the basis of common merit list prepared by the Commission on the basis of Limited Competitive Examination held by the Commission in accordance with the orders issued by Government in consultation with the Commission in that behalf, from time to time;

OR

(c)      by nomination on the basis of Limited Competitive Examination to be held by the Commission.

Rule - 4.

In case of appointment by selection, in order to be eligible for admission to the Limited Competitive Examination held by the Commission the candidate shall,

(1)     (a) have completed a minimum five years of continuous regular service as Forester in the Forest Department;

(b) not be less than twenty-one years and not more than forty-two years of age;

(c) (i) possess Bachelor's degree in Science with at least one of the subjects of Botany, Chemistry, Forestry, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics, Zoology, Horticulture, Agriculture, Computer Application or Computer Science or degree in Engineering in the faculty of Agriculture or Chemical or Civil or Computer or Electrical or Electronic or Mechanical or Environmental Science or Veterinary Science;

OR

(ii) Possess a Bachelor's degree with mathematics other than science faculty;

Provided that, if candidates are not available for appointment by selection through Limited Competitive Examination, then the vacant posts from the selection quota, shall be filled in by promotion.

(2)     For appearing the Limited Competitive Examination, the candidates shall have maximum three chances; however, the candidates belonging to the backward classes shall have maximum five chances.

(3)     Out of last five years, annual confidential reports, the candidates should have three "Excellent" remarks and remaining two remarks should be "Good".

(4)     The candidates belonging to the backward classes shall have to submit their Caste Validity Certificate to the concerned authority.

Rule - 5.

In. case of appointment by nomination, in order to be eligible for admission to the Limited Competitive Examination held by the Commission the candidate shall,

(a)      not be less than twenty-one years and not more than thirty-three years of age;

(b)      (i) possess a Bachelor's degree in Science with any one of the subjects of Botany, Chemistry, Forestry, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics, Zoology, Horticulture, Agriculture, Computer Application or Computer Science or degree in Engineering in the faculty of Agriculture or Chemical or Civil or Computer or Electrical or Electronic or Mechanical or Environmental Science or Veterinary Science;

OR

(ii) possesses a Bachelor's degree with Mathematics other than Science faculty;

Provided that, the candidates should have passed the Higher Secondary Certificate Examination in Science faculty.

(c)      fulfill following physical qualifications:

the candidates belonging to the Scheduled Tribe category fulfill following physical qualifications:

(d)      Eye sight.

have visual acuity 6/6 each eye with + 4.00 D after correction. There should be no infective condition of external eye or squint and the candidate shall possess high degree of colour vision.

(e)      male and female candidate should have physical capacity of walking 25 K.M. & 16 K.M. respectively, in 4 hours.

Rule - 6.

Appointment to the post mentioned in rule 3 shall be made by promotion, selection through Limited Competitive Examination and nomination in the ratio of 25:25:50, respectively:

Provided that, five per cent posts from nomination quota shall be filled in from amongst the candidates possessing "Forestry" degree:

Provided further that, if candidates are not available from such five per cent (5 %) post from nomination quota, then those post shall be filled in from amongst the candidates possessing educational qualification mentioned in rule 5 (b);

Rule - 7.

A person appointed to the post mentioned in rule 3 by nomination shall be on probation for a period of three years. Person appointed shall be required to complete successfully the prescribed training for a period of one and half year at Forest Science Training College recognized by the Government of India for this purpose and the field training prescribed by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest or Chief Conservator of Forest for a period of one and half year. The person appointed to the said post by nomination shall also be required to pass the prescribed Departmental Examination within the probation period so also to complete the probation period satisfactorily. If he/she does not complete successfully the prescribed training within the probation period or does not pass the prescribed Departmental Examination or does not complete the probation period satisfactorily or is not found suitable for the post during probation period, he/she shall be liable to be terminated from the service.

Rule - 8.

After completing the prescribed training and probation period successfully, the training period shall be treated as service period.

Rule - 9.

The inter-se-seniority of the Range Forest Officer appointed by nomination shall be determined by adding the marks obtained by the candidate on the basis of merit in the Limited Competitive Examination held by the Commission and the marks obtained by the candidates in the final examination held at the training course.

Rule - 10.

A person appointed to the post mentioned in rule 3 by nomination shall be required to execute a bond that, "he shall complete the prescribed training successfully and after completion of the prescribed training, he shall serve in that post for a minimum period of seven years. In case of failure for completion of the prescribed training or serving for such minimum period of Seven years, he shall reimburse the expenses expended on his training as may be determined by the Government, from time to time."

Rule - 11.

A person appointed to the post mentioned in rule 3 shall be required to pass examination in Hindi and Marathi languages according to the rules made in that behalf, unless he has already passed or has been exempted from passing those examinations.

Rule - 12.

A person appointed to the post mentioned in rule 3 should possess a Certificate in Computer Operation prescribed by the Directorate of Information & Technology, Government of Maharashtra, from time to time.

Rule - 13.

A person appointed to the post mentioned in rule 3 shall be liable to transfer anywhere in the State of Maharashtra.