Panchkula: In a move which raises several questions, senior forest officials suspended over illegal cutting of over 1,000 Khair trees have been posted back to the same locations where they earlier served. The officials include a divisional forest officer, and a divisional wildlife officer.The latest order issued by the Environment, Forests and Wildlife Department recently reinstated Vishal Kaushik, Haryana Forest Service (HFS), who was serving as Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Yamunanagar. While revoking his suspension without prejudice to the pending inquiry, the govt has posted him as Divisional Forest Officer (Territorial), Morni-Pinjore — the same division where he was posted prior to his suspension.Earlier, the department had also revoked the suspension of Joginder Singh, Van Darogha, and restored him to duty in the office of the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Morni-Pinjore, where he had been serving before disciplinary action was initiated. The reinstatement order clarifies that the inquiry against him will continue.Similarly, Rajender Parshad Dangi, the then Divisional Wildlife Officer, Panchkula, who was placed under suspension in March this year, has also been reinstated and posted back as Divisional Wildlife Officer, Panchkula, while departmental proceedings against him continue.Manir Gupta, Forest Ranger, who was suspended, too, has been reinstated at the office of DFO Morni-Pinjore.The three officers were suspended in March over alleged felling of large number of trees in the forest area. While the government has restored them to service, all the reinstatement orders specify that the action is “without prejudice to the pending enquiry,” meaning the disciplinary proceedings against the officers will continue even as they resume their duties. The copies of the orders were supplied under the Right to Information (RTI) act.“When all officers are suspended and posted in the same position and place, then how can an inquiry against them be impartial? They hold sways and have access to all documents. Trees are still being cut in the forest area. I have written to the chief minister, forest minister and the chief secretary to save our forests by ensuring more staff and implementing existing policies. About 6,000 trees under forest and wildlife department have been cut in the recent past,” claimed RTI applicant Vijay Bansal, president, Shivalik Vikas Manch.When contacted, KC Meena, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, said, “The reinstatement was done by the govt. They were reinstated as the per the existing rules.”Earlier, a joint inspection of the Asrewali Protected Forest area was conducted on Feb 28, 2026 by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests & Chief Wildlife Warden, Haryana, along with the Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Panchkula, and other staff. During the inspection, it was observed that illegal felling had indeed taken place in the Asrewali Protected Forest area, which is part of the Khol-Hi-Raitan Wildlife Sanctuary.The committee formed in this regard had submitted its investigation report on March, noting that illegal felling—primarily of Khair trees—was found in the Asrewali Protected Forest area, with the number of felled trees estimated at approximately 1,035. The officers were suspended after this report. Besides, this case, several other incidents of tree felling have been reported in the recent past.
