THE ORISSA SUBORDINATE FOREST SERVICE (METHOD OF RECRUITMENT AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE OF FOREST GUARDS) RULES, 1998

[1][THE ORISSA SUBORDINATE FOREST SERVICE (METHOD OF RECRUITMENT AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE OF FOREST GUARDS) RULES, 1998]

PREAMBLE

In exercise of the powers conferred by the proviso to Article 309 of the Constitution of India, the Governor of Orissa is pleased to make the following rules to regulate the method of recruitment and conditions of service of the persons appointed to the post of Forest Guard, namely :

CHAPTER-I

Rule - 1. Short title and commencement.

(1)     These rules may be called the Orissa Subordinate Forest Service (Method of Recruitment and Conditions of Service of Forest Guards) Rules, 1998.

(2)     They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Orissa Gazette.

Rule - 2. Definitions.

(1)     In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires-

(a)      "Appointing Authority" means the Divisional Forest Officer concerned;

 

(b)      "Chairman" means the Chairman of the Selection Board;

 

(c)      "Department of Government" means the Forest and Environment Department;

 

(d)      "Divisional Forest Officer" means the Divisional Forest Officer of the Division;

 

(e)      "Government" means the Government of Orissa;

 

(f)       "Scheduled Castes" and "Scheduled Trides" shall mean the same as defined in Orissa Reservation of Vacancies in Posts and Services (For Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Act, 1975;

 

(g)      "Selection Board" means the board constituted under Rule 7;

 

(h)     "Select list" means the list of suitable candidates prepared by the Selection Board and approved by the appointing authority;

 

(i)       "Service" means the Orissa Subordinate Forest Service of Forest Guards;

 

(j)       Socially and Educationally Backward Classes shall have reference to such class as specified in the Notification No. 25455-TW, dt. 10.9.3993 of Welfare department and subsequent notification issued in this regard; and

 

(k)      "Year" means the Calendar year.

(2)     All other words and expression used in these rules but not defined shall have the same meaning as respectively assigned to them in the Orissa Service Code.

Rule - 3. Service.

The Service shall consist of the posts of Forest Guard 1n Group "C" Service.

Rule - 4. Method of Recruitment.

Recruitment to the posts of Forest Guard in Group "C" service shall be made by the Selection Board;

[2][(i) by way of redeployment of surplus Group 'D' employees of State Government and State Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) to the extent of 75% of the vacancies, having prescribed physical fitness for the post; and in case of non-availability of such employees by direct recruitment through competitive examination from open market.]

(ii) by promotion to the extent of twenty five per cent from the rank of Group "D" employee of the Division.

Rule - 5. Recruitment.

Recruitment to the posts shall be held in every year preferable in the month of January.

Rule - 6. Vacancies.

The number of vacancies that will occur during a particular year shall be determined by the Divisional Forest Officer concerned by the first day of December in the preceeding year.

Rule - 7. Selection Board.

The Selection Board shall consist of the following officer:

Rule - 8. Reservation.

The Orissa Reservation of Vacancies in Posts and Services (for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Act, 1975 and rules made thereunder and orders regarding Reservation of Posts in Services for Sportsman, Socially and Educationally Backward Classes, Ex-service Personnel and Women respectively shall be applicable to the Service :

Provided that no physically handicapped candidate shall be eligible to be appointed to the service.

Rule - 9. Age.

The age of the candidate must be between eighteen to thirty-two years as per the provisions laid down in the Orissa Civil Services (Fixation of Upper Age Limit) Rules, 1989 :

Provided that the upper age limit shall be relaxable by five-years in case of Scheduled Tribe, Scheduled Caste and Women Candidates, by three years in case of candidate belonging to Socially and Economically Backward Classes and as per the special provisions made regarding age limit in respect of Ex-Serviceman in Rule 5 of the Orissa Ex-Service-man (Recruitment to the State Civil Services and Posts) Rules, 1985.

[3][Provided further that the maximum age limit of 40 years will be allowed for the existing Group-D employees of the State Government or State Public Sector Undertaking as the case may be.]

Rule - 10. Physical standard.

(1)     The minimum physical standard of the candidate shall be as follows for different categories :

(2)     Candidates all categories shall be examined by the Chief Medical Officer of the District to testify that they possess sound health and general ps3) the candidate must be of sound health, good physique and active habits and be free from any organic defect or bodily infirmity.

Rule - 11. Select list.

(1)     The Selection Board shall prepare a list of successful candidates in order of merit on the basis of total marks secured. This list shall contain the names of the successful candidates equal to the number of vacancies. This list after being approved by the appointing authority shall be the 'Select list' of Candidates for appointment against the vacancies.

(2)     The select list prepared under'-Sub-rule (1) shall remain valid for a period of one year from the date of. its approval or till the next Select list is drawn up whichever is earlier.

Rule - 12. Seniority.

"(1)  The inter se seniority of the Forest Guards shall be determined on the basis of their respective position in the selection list prepared by the Selection Board and approved by the appointing authority.

(2)   The promotees shall be enblock senior to the direct recruits of the same year.

[4][(3) The inter se seniority of the persons appointed on redeployment basis shall be determined taking into account their length of Service rendered before such redeployment and marks obtained in the physical test;

(4)    The person appointed on redeployment shall be en block senior to the direct recruits and junior to the promotees of that year.]

CHAPTER-II PROCEDURE FOR DIRECT RECRUITMENT

Rule - 13. Eligibility.

A candidate in order to be eligible to compete at the examination for direct recruitment must satisfy the following conditions, namely :

(a)      he shall be a citizen of Indian

 

(b)      he shall be able to speak, read and write Oriya fluently and must have passed an examination in Oriya language in M.E. School Standard;

 

(c)      he shall have a good Character; and

 

(d)      he must have passed High School Certificate Examination (10+) from recognised Board/Institution.

Rule - 14. Distribution of Marks.

The recruitment shall be conducted for a total mark of 100 and the distribution/award of mark for different test will be as follows :

(a)      Academical qualification (25 marks). The distribution will be as follows:

(b)      Physical standard (5 marks). The mark will be awarded as follows

(c)      Sports (10 marks)

Candidates possessing sports and athletic certificate shall be awarded marks in following manner :

(i)       Written test will be conducted in two subjects i.e. Oriya Language and Mathematics of Class-IX standard. Each paper will be of one hour duration. Each paper will carry 25 marks as maximum. As far as possible objective type questions shall be set up for written test.

 

(ii)      Candidates securing minimum 50 per cent marks (40 per cent in case of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) in the written test shall qualify for the subsequent tests.

 

(iii)     Questions for the written test shall be set by Group-A Officers not being a Member of the Selection Board. Valuation of answer papers shall be done by such other officers, not being a member of the Selection Board.

 

(iv)    Invigilators for written examination shall be drawn from other offices preferably from other Divisions. The Question Setters, Evaluators and Invigilators shall be selected by the Conservator of forests having administrative jurisdiction over the concerned Division.

 

(d)      Physical Test (5 Marks)

The marks will be awarded as follows:-

Candidates who qualify in the written and physical tests shall appear in viva voce to be conducted by the Selection Board..

CHAPTER -III

Rule - 15. Eligibility for promotion.

Vacancies in the rank of, Forest Guard in Group 'C of Orissa Sub-ordinate Forest Service required to be filled up by promotion from the rank of Group 'D' employees of the concerned Forest Division shall be made subject to fulfilling the following criteria, namely:

(a)      he shall have completed a minimum of 10 (Ten) years of service in the cadre of Group 'D' Forest service;

 

(b)      he shall have minimum educational qualification of M.E. Standard;

 

(c)      he shall have the minimum physical standard as prescribed in Rule 10; and

 

(d)      he shall not be physically handicapped.

Rule - 16. Criteria for promotion.

The promotion of Group 'D' employee will be made on the basis of seniority with due regard to merit.

Rule - 17. Performance report.

Performance Report for last 5 years of Group 'D' employee shall be examined by the Selection Board.

Rule - 18.

The merit of the Group 'D' employee will be judged through following tests-

(1)     Physical Test:-(10 Marks)

The physical test and distribution of mark shall be as follows :-

(2)     Candidates securing eight marks shall only be eligible for promotion.

Rule - 19. Promotions.

The Selection Board shall follow the provision of the Orissa Civil Services (Criteria for Promotion) Rules, 1992, the Orissa Civil Service (Zone of Consideration) Rules, 1998, the Orissa Reservation of Vacancies in Posts and Services (for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Act, 1975 and rules made thereunder for the purpose.

Rule - 20. Select list of successful candidate and its validity.

The Board shall prepare a list of suitable candidates for promotion equal to the number of vacancies which shall be valid for a period of one year from the date of its approval or till drawal of the next Select list whichever is earlier.

CHAPTER - IV

Rule - 21. Training.

On preparation of select list for various categories of candidates the appointing authority shall intimate the Conservator of Forests, Development Circle for allotment of seat in the Training Institution.

Rule - 22. Allotment for training.

The Conservator of Forests, Development Circle after receiving intimations from the appointing authorities shall prepare a consolidated list of trainees for undergoing training school wise indifferent sessions and send the same to Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Orissa for approval. After obtaining approval, the Conservator of Forests, Development Circle shall notify the names of candidates for undergoing training.

Rule - 23. Stipend.

The selected candidates shall undergo a training course in any of Forest Guard Training Schools for a period of 6 months. Except Group D employee, other selected candidates will be paid stipend during the training period. The payment of stipend to select direct recruitee during their training has to be decided by the Administrative Department in consultation with the Finance Department. The selected Group D employees for the posts of Forest Guard shall be paid their usual salary from respective divisions during the period of training.

Rule - 24. Bond.

The Selected candidates will execute a Bond prior to joining the training as prescribed by Forest Department.

Rule - 25. Probation.

On successful completion of the Forest Guard training, the candidate will be appointed temporarily as Forest Guard on probation for a period of one year. Failure to complete the probation period satisfactorily or the training by passing the examination in two chances shall liable to termination of job in case of direct recruitees and reversion to base cadre in case of candidates recruited by way of promotion.

Rule - 26. Confirmation.

On successful completion of training and probation, a candidate may be confirmed in the Cadre subject to availability of a substantive vacancy in the cadre. However, the appointing authority shall have the power to revert the promotee Officer to his feeder grade/cadre or to terminate the appointment or extend the period of probation to such extent as deemed proper in case of direct recruit, for not having completed the probation period successfully or for not having passed the training in two consecutive chances.

Rule - 27. Relaxation.

Whenever it is considered by the Government that it is necessary or expedient to do so in the public interest, it may, by order, for reasons to be recorded in writing, relax any of the provisions of these rules in respect of any class or category of persons.

Rule - 28. Interpretation.

If any question arises relating to the interpretation of any provision of these rules, it shall be referred to the Government in Administrative Department for a decision.