By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 31 Jan: Taking stern disciplinary action against Deputy Forest Range Officer Kuldeep Singh Panwar, the Uttarakhand Forest Department has suspended him. Panwar has been accused of unauthorisedly obtaining and misusing government records, as well as disregarding the regulations laid out under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
According to departmental correspondence and an inquiry report prepared in this connection, it has been alleged that Kuldeep Singh Panwar had acquired sensitive documents that were neither officially certified nor obtained through the legal channels provided under the Right to Information Act, 2005 (RTI Act). Following the recovery of the documents, an investigation was conducted into the matter and it was decided to place Panwar under suspension.
The case came to light when a letter was received by the Conservator of Forests, Research Circle, Uttarakhand, Haldwani. The communication alleged that Deputy Forest Range Officer Kuldeep Singh Panwar was in possession of departmental documents that had never been officially provided to him. Investigations revealed that these papers were neither attested by a competent authority nor procured via any statutory process. Upon verifying the validity of the documents, departmental officers found the matter to be grave at first glance.
During the inquiry, it also emerged that some of the records utilised contained personal information belonging to a private individual. The unauthorised use of such private data was deemed a violation of the fundamental right to privacy enshrined in the Constitution. The department maintained that no government employee has the right to obtain or use such information without statutory permission or following due process.
The inquiry report claims that the actions of the Deputy Forest Range Officer constitute a clear violation of Rules 3(1), 3(2), and 9 of the Uttarakhand Government Servants Conduct Rules, 2002. Furthermore, under the relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Sections 303, 61, and 356, the act has been categorised as a serious offence. The inquiry report provided by departmental officials further states that breaching the confidentiality of government records is not only a violation of service rules but also raises questions regarding the functioning and credibility of the department.
The Forest Department had sought an explanation from Panwar regarding the allegations. Departmental records indicate that he was summoned to provide a response on 11 November 2025, but no satisfactory reply was received within the stipulated timeframe. Despite being given subsequent opportunities to present his side, Panwar failed to clarify the source of the documents or explain the legal process through which he had obtained the records.
In view of the gravity of the situation, the suspension order has been issued by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) and the Head of Forest Force (HoFF), Uttarakhand, Ranjan Kumar Mishra. The order states that it is prima facie evident that the Deputy Forest Range Officer engaged in the unauthorised use of government documents, which constitutes a breach of departmental discipline. During the suspension period, Kuldeep Singh Panwar will be entitled to a subsistence allowance as per the rules and will remain attached to the Office of the Conservator of Forests, Shivalik Circle, Uttarakhand.
The Forest Department has also clarified that this action has been taken based on a preliminary inquiry, while a detailed departmental investigation is currently underway. Should the allegations be fully proven during the probe, more stringent disciplinary action may be taken against the officer. The department has also indicated that rules related to the security of government documents and the Right to Information will be implemented more strictly in the future to prevent such occurrences.
