Tamil Nadu Forest Service Rules

1. Constitution.--

The service shall consist of the following categories of officers, namely:--

Category 1: Deputy Conservator of Forests. (hereinafter referred to as Deputy Conservators).

Category 2: Assistant Conservator of Forests, (hereinafter referred to as Assistant Conservators).

¹Category 3: Assistant Director of Statistics.

2. Appointment.--

(a) Appointment to the several categories of the several shall be made as follows:--

Category.	Method of recruitment.
(1)	(2)
Deputy Conservators.	Promotion from Assistant Conservator.
Assistant Conservators. 1Assistant Director of Statistics.	Direct recruitment or recruitment by transfer from Rangers of the Tamil Nadu Forest Subordinate Service. Recruitment by transfer from among the holders of the post of Statistical Officers in the Tamil Nadu Forest Subordinate Service, in the Tamil Nadu Forest Department.

So far as qualified and suitable candidates are available, direct recruitment and recruitment by transfer of Assistant Conservator shall be made in the proportion, of 1:2.

(b) No Assistant Conservator shall, ordinarily, be eligible for promotion as Deputy Conservator unless he has completed 4 years of service as Assistant Conservator of Forests.

(c) The posts of Deputy Conservator shall be selection posts and promotion to these posts shall be by merit and ability, seniority being considered only where merit and ability are approximately equal.

¹(d) No person shall be eligible for appointment to the post of Assistant Director of Statistics unless he has worked for a period of not less than five years in the post, of Statistical Officer in the Tamil Nadu Forest Department. Appointment to the post of Assistant Director of Statistics shall be made on the basis of merit, and ability seniority, being considered only where merit and ability are approximately equal.

3. Reservation of appointments.--

The rule of reservation of appointment (General Rule 22) shall apply to the appointment of Assistant Conservators by direct recruitment.

4. Qualification.--

(1) A candidate for appointment by direct recruitment as Assistant Conservator--

(a) must have completed or will completed the age of twenty-one years and must not have completed or will complete the age of thirty years on the first day of July of the year in which the selection by appointment is made:

Provided that in the case of candidate belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Most Backward Class, Denotified Communities and Backward Classes, the upper age limit shall be thirty-five years. (with effect from 23.01.1995):

Provided further that in the case of candidates working as Rangers, who have secured Honours during Rangers training and who have not completed 45 years of age shall be eligible for exemption of age limit for two times to appear for Direct Recruitment.

(b) must hold Bachelors degree in "Forestry", Botany, Zoology, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Statistics, Geology, Agriculture or Engineering (Mechanical, Civil or Chemical) of any University or Institution recognised by the University Grants Commission for the purposes of its grant, provided that in the case of post-graduates with Mathematics or Statistics, they must have taken one of the following subjects in their P.U.C. Examination², namely:--

(i) Biology (ii) Physics; and (iii) Chemistry:

Provided that other Science graduates with Economics and Mathematics as subsidiary or ancillary subjects will also eligible for appointment:

Provided further that, other things are being equal, preference shall be given to candidates who possess a degree in Forestry or a post graduate degree in Wild Life Biology;

Note.--

In selecting Engineering Graduates (Mechanical, Civil or Chemical), preference shall be given to those who have undergone one year of apprenticeship under the Government of India scheme or one year of training under the State Government apprenticeship scheme.

³(c)     [(i) Must possess the following minimum physical standards:-

Height (cm)		Chest Girth (cm) Normal Expansion
Male candidate	163	84	05
Female candidate	150	79	05

The following minimum height standards may be allowed in case of candidates belonging to Scheduled Tribes and races such as Assamees, Bhutanese, Garhwalis, Gorkhas, Kumaonis, Ladakhese, Mizo, Naga, Nepalese, Sikkimese and those from Arunachal Pradesh, Lahaul and Spiti and Meghalaya.

Male Candidate	152 cm
Female Candidate	145 cm

(ii) Male/Female candidates must pass a physical test covering a distance of 25/16 Kilometers within four hours on foot, respectively.]

(d) must satisfy a Medical Board in Chennai as to his physique, fitness and capacity for rough out-door work in the Forest Department.

(2) No person shall be eligible for appointment by recruitment by transfer as Assistant Conservator unless he has passed the Account Test for Executive Officers and Departmental Test in Forest Revenue and has completed 8 years of service as Ranger.

⁴(3) No Forest Range Officer shall be eligible for appointment by recruitment by transfer as Assistant Conservator of Forests unless he has put in service for a period of not less than one year, in anyone of the following units, namely:--

(i) Tamil Nadu Tea Plantation Corporation Limited;

(ii) Tamil Nadu Forest Plantation Corporation Limited (upto 01.09.1992);

(iii) Arasu Rubber Corporation Limited; and

(iv) Outside the Forest Department on deputation.

¹(4) No person shall be eligible for appointment to the post of Assistant Director of Statistics unless he has passed the Account Tests for Subordinate Officers Part I and Part II or the Account Test for Executive Officers.

5. Probation.--

(1) Every person appointed--

(i) if recruited direct, shall commence probation with effect from the date on which the reports for trainee in any of the State Forest Service Colleges and be on probation for a total period of 3 years and six months within a continuous period of 4 years and six months; and (with effect from 26.12.1979)

(ii) if recruited by transfer, for a total period of two years on duty within a continuous period of three years.

(2) In the case of Assistant Conservator of Forests, the Chief Conservator of Forests shall be the competent authority to declare the completion of probation or to extend, the period of probation in case of failure to pass the prescribed tests mentioned in rule 7 below subject to the condition that it will not involve relaxation of rules.

⁵(3) Every person who has not attained the age of 54 years, appointed to the post of Assistant Conservator of Forests by recruitment by transfer, shall undergo six weeks promotion linked compulsory training course in the Training Institutions under the control of Ministry of Environment and Forests or the State Training Institutions or other established Training Institutions in the Country within the period of probation (i.e.) within the total period of two years on duty within a continuous period of three years.

¹(4) Every person appointed to the post of Assistant Director of Statistics shall, from the date on which he joins duty, be on probation for a total period of one year on duty within a continuous period of two years. The authority competent to declare the completion of probation shall be the Chief Conservator of Forests.

6. Training.--

⁶[(a)     (i) A candidate recruited as Assistant Conservator of Forests by direct recruitment shall, undergo the Course of study in any one of the Central Academy of State Forest Service College in India (notified by Government of India) for a period of two years. After completion of initial 16 months (First Phase) of the course, the 'Officer Trainee' shall go back to the State to undergo "Field Training" for a period of four months. Thereafter the 'Officer Trainee' shall report to the college for subsequent training for a period of four months (Second Phase). There shall be a term break of 30 days during the Course, which may be fixed by the concerned Principal. The period of term break shall count towards earned leave. If the candidate is prevented by sickness or other adequate cause from appearing at the final examination at the above college, the State Government may, allow him to appear for the next final examination;

(ii) After completion of First Phase of Training in the concerned Central Academy of State Forest Service College, the 'Officer Trainee' shall be attached to the following functionaries of the State for exposure for a period of four months. The 'Officer Trainee' shall be considered to be on "FIELD TEAMING".

Sl. No.	Attached to/Issue to be covered	Duration in Weeks
(1)	(2)	(3)
1.	Forest Rang Officer:	Five
	(i) Land Records
	(ii) Silvicutural system
	(iii) Tree Improvement
	(iv) Grafting
	(v) High Technology Nursery
	(vi) Clonal Propagation
	(vii) Voucher Preparation
	(viii) Cash Handling
	(ix) Accounts
	(x) Range Management
	(xi) Enquiry of Forest Offences
	(xii) Marking and Enumeration
2.	Divisional Forest Officer:	Five
	(i) Establishment Matters
	(ii) Office Management
	(iii) Budget
	(iv) Audit
	(v) Legal Matters
	(vi) Co-ordination with District Administration
	(vii) People's Participation, PRA, ERA, Agro forestry, VFC
3.	Forest Corporation:	Two
	(i) Harvesting
	(ii) Logging
	(iii) Transport
	(iv) Depot Management
	(v) Volume and Royalty Calculation
	(vi) Marketing
4.	Revenue Authorities:	One
	(i) Land Records
	(ii) Rural Development Programme
5.	Law Enforcement authorities in the district and Tehsil Level:	One
	(i) Enforcement of laws and Policies
	(ii) Integrated Effort
	(iii) Co-operation
	(iv) Interaction
6.	Public Prosecutor, Government Counsel:	Two
	(i) Application of Law
	(ii) Filing of Cases
	(iii) Follow Up Action.
	Total	Sixteen weeks

After completion of the above Field Trainings, the "Officer Trainee" should report before the concerned Central Academy of State Forest Service College as per schedule notified by the College for the Second Phase of Training; and

(iii) On obtaining the certificate of satisfactory completion of the course of study in any one of the Central Academy of State Forest Service College in India, the 'Officer Trainee' shall be given practical training for a period of twelve months in various functionaries of the State for exposure in the field as well as in administration, as indicated below:

(i) Practical and Office training under the Divisional Forest Officer:	3 months
(ii) Training in the Office of the Conservator of Forests;	1 month
(iii) Practical training in Police, Revenue and Judicial, Departments
(Three weeks each in Police and Revenue Departments and two weeks in Judicial Department):	2 months
(iv) Range training (Independent Charge): Total:	6 months 12 months

(b) During the period of training mentioned in sub-rule (a), he shall be entitled to the minimum in the time scale of pay applicable to the post of Assistant Conservator of Forests as the State Government may, from time to time, prescribe. He shall be granted, in respect of the journeys performed by him while undergoing the course of study, actual expenses as authorized by the rules relating to the said course of study and also travelling allowance for joining duty in the State on successful completion of the course of study limited to a single first class railway, fare and in addition a single mileage for any journey by road.

The entire college fees for the two years course of study at the State Forest Service College shall be met by the State Government. He shall execute a bond with two sureties for all sums which, in any way may be expended, paid or incurred by the State Government in respect of his education at the State Forest Service Colleges and also a separate agreement in such form as may be prescribed by the Government, from time to time, undertaking to serve the State Government in the Forest Department for a period of five years after successful completion of his training for the award of Diploma in Forestry.

Explanation.-- A directly recruited Assistant Conservator of Forests holding a Degree or Diploma in Forestry, considered equivalent to the Diploma awarded by the Indian Forest College, Dehradun or State Forest Service Colleges, need not undergo the two years course of study in any State Forest Service Colleges, but will be directly posted for practical training under a Divisional Forest Officer.

(c) ⁶A candidate recruited as Assistant Conservator of Forests (Officer Trainee) by direct recruitment, shall be granted a sum, as notified by the Central Academy of State Forest Service College from time to time as Equipment Allowance towards the purchase of equipments during the two years course of study in any one of the Central Academy of State Forest Service College in India. 34% (thirty four percent) of the amount sanctioned shall be treated as outright grant and the remaining 66% (sixty six percent) of the sanctioned amount shall be treated as interest free loan. The loan amount shall be recovered in 30 equal monthly instalments, from the candidate, after he joins duty on completion of above said training course. The 'Officer Trainee' who has been granted loan shall execute an agreement with two sureties for repayment of the loan.

7. Tests.--

Every person appointed to the post of Assistant Conservator of Forests by the methods specified in column (i) of the Table below shall, within the period his probation, pass the tests specified in the corresponding entries in column (2) thereof

TABLE

Method of Appointment.	Tests.
Direct Recruitment.	1. Departmental Test in Forest Law.
	2. Departmental Test in Forest Revenue.
	3. Test on Code and Accounts; and
	4. Test on Fundamental Rules, State Service Rules; etc.

Provided that a person who has attained the age of forty five years on the date of his appointment as Assistant Conservator of Forests by direct recruitment by transfer shall be required to pass the Departmental Test in Forest Revenue.

8. Seniority.--

(a) Save as provided in sub-rule (b), the seniority of a directly recruited Assistant Conservator shall be determined by the date of his passing the examination held by the Indian Forest College, Dehradun or State Forest Service College-cum-Research Centre, Burnihat or State Forest Service College, Coimbatore. Where such date is the same in the case of two or more such members, their inter-se seniority shall be determined by their rank in the pass list issued by the College.

(b) The relative seniority of the Assistant Conservators (recruited direct and by transfer) shall be determined by the date on which an Assistant Conservator of Forests, whether recruited direct or by transfer, begins to draw for the first time the pay in the time scale sanctioned for the post, provided that this provision shall not apply to persons who commenced their probation before the 1st October 1956 or to persons who were selected by the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission before that date whose seniority shall be determined by rule 35 of the General Rules for the Tamil Nadu State and Subordinate Service and sub rule (a) of this rule.

9. Increment.--

(a) A probationary Assistant Conservator appointed by direct recruitment shall draw his first increment at the end of the first year course of study in a State Forestry Service College and the second increment on satisfactory completion of the course. He shall draw his third increment at the end of first year after the satisfactory completion of two years course in a State Forest College. He shall draw his fourth increment on completion of fourth year and after satisfactory completion of his probation of three years and six months with in a continuous period of four years and six months. If his probation is extended beyond four years and six months, his fourth increment shall be postponed to that extent, but it shall not affect his future increments.

(b) An approved probationer in the category of Assistant Conservators who was appointed by direct recruitment shall not be entitled to count for increments in the time scale of pay applicable to him any period of probation prior to the date on which he commences to perform the duty of his post:

Provided that in the case of those who reported for training in a State Forest Service College, prior to the 26th December 1979, only the period from the 26th December 1979 shall count for increment and they shall be eligible to draw the first increment on 28th December 1980 and their subsequent increments shall get postponed correspondingly.

10. Postings and Transfer.--

[Omitted].

11. Preparation of annual list.--

The annual list for appointment to the category of Assistant Conservators of Forests by recruitment by transfer shall be prepared as follows:--

(i)	Date on which the candidate should possess the prescribed qualifications.	15th August of every year.
(ii)	Date by which the estimate of vacancies should be sent by the Chief Conservator of Forests every year to the Government.	15th September of" every year.
(iii)	Date by which proposals for selection for appointment to the posts should be sent by the Government of Tamil Nadu to the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission	15th October of every year.
(iv)	Date by which the list of approved candidates should be communicated by the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission to the Government.	15th January of the succeeding year.