The group cautioned that any dilution of frontline forest safety might create alternatives for organized wildlife crime networks. File | Picture Credit score: The Hindu
A bunch of retired Indian Administrative Service and Indian Forest Service officers and wildlife conservationists has raised “severe issues” over the Assam authorities deploying round 1,600 personnel of the Assam Forest Safety Power (AFPF) on election responsibility.
An Assam authorities official confirmed to The Hindu that it was the “first time” forest personnel had been requisitioned for election responsibility. assam votes in a single section on April 9.
In a joint illustration addressed to authorities on March 28, the signatories have argued that the order dated March 19, 2026 – issued by the State’s Atmosphere, Forest and Local weather Change Division – violates each election tips and a binding Supreme Courtroom directive.
The signatories stated Election Fee of India’s norms don’t enable the deployment of territorial forest workers and serving forest officers for election work. These safeguards make sure that forest safety and wildlife administration capabilities will not be disrupted.
They cited a Could 15, 2024, order of the Supreme Courtroom which directed that forest workers and automobiles shouldn’t be deployed for elections or different non-forest duties. Any deviation from this, the illustration stated, raises “severe authorized and constitutional issues”.
The Hindu has independently verified the court docket order and the ballot physique’s norms.
Query on safety in Assam’s ecologically delicate areas
The signatories warned that diverting such numerous AFPF personnel might weaken on-ground safety in Assam’s ecologically delicate areas. The State is house to the world’s largest inhabitants of the endangered one-horned rhinoceros, concentrated in Kaziranga Nationwide Park, a UNESCO World Heritage web site, that requires round the clock safety towards poaching.
They famous that a number of different weak species — together with the hoolock gibbon, golden langur and pygmy hog, all of which have important populations in Assam — might face elevated danger if forest safety workers are redeployed. Elephants and tigers within the State’s forests is also adversely affected, they stated.
The group cautioned that any dilution of frontline forest safety might create alternatives for organized wildlife crime networks. It warned that the transfer units a “troubling precedent” by disregarding established institutional safeguards.
The illustration has been signed by former senior officers together with Meena Gupta, former Secretary, Ministry of Atmosphere and Forests; AK Jha, former Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), Maharashtra; Uma Shankar Singh, former PCCF, Uttar Pradesh; and Prakriti Srivastava, former PCCF, Kerala, amongst others. Conservationist Prerna Singh Bindra and authorized analyst Debadityo Sinha are additionally among the many signatories.
The group has urged authorities to right away withdraw the order and guarantee strict compliance with ballot physique tips and Supreme Courtroom instructions in future.
Anurag Goel, Chief Electoral Officer, Assam, didn’t reply to a request for remark. There was no instant response from the Assam authorities on the time of publication.
Revealed – March 30, 2026 10:05 pm IST