Ziraat Times Team Report
SRINAGAR: Hundreds of unemployed forestry graduates across Jammu & Kashmir have appealed to the UT administration and the Forest Department to revise recruitment rules and prioritise technically qualified professionals for posts within the forestry sector.
In a strongly worded memorandum, a copy of which has been shared with Ziraat Times, forestry degree holders, including those with Ph.D. and M.Sc. qualifications, said that the B.Sc. Forestry degree—accredited by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and recognised by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC)—should be made the basic qualification for key posts such as Foresters and Forest Inspectors.
They argue that existing rules under SRO-241 and SRO-335 (1991) dilute the importance of this specialised technical training by allowing 10+2 and non-technical graduates to compete for roles that require in-depth understanding of forest ecosystems, biodiversity management, and climate resilience.
“Despite rigorous academic and field training, including year-long rural experiential learning, we remain unemployed for years,” said Dr. Tanveer Ahmad Rather, a forestry Ph.D. scholar and spokesperson for the aggrieved group.
The graduates noted that the Forest Department’s recruitment rules have remained unchanged for over three decades, leaving technically qualified youth in limbo. They pointed out that even the 250 Forester posts advertised in 2010 have yet to be filled due to pending court cases and procedural delays.
“Even today, most forest ranges operate with ‘in-charge’ officers holding posts for years. Why is there no space for professionally trained candidates like us?” asked one of the graduates.
They cited the example of other departments—such as Agriculture, Horticulture, and Fisheries—where recruitment strictly requires relevant degrees (e.g., B.Tech. for Junior Engineers, B.Sc. Agriculture for Extension Officers). In contrast, they say, forestry posts are “open to everyone,” leaving forestry technocrats sidelined in their own domain.
The group also raised alarm over the mental health impact of prolonged joblessness, claiming that over 930 forestry graduates in J&K are facing stress and depression.
“We’ve spent 11 years pursuing a professional path from Bachelor’s to Ph.D., yet we’re wandering door-to-door with no future in sight,” said Rather. “Either take steps to absorb us or declare our degrees invalid, so future students don’t suffer the same fate.”
The graduates pointed to the 2019 Range Officer vacancies and 2022 Forest Inspector posts that remain unadvertised or unprocessed. Moreover, the case regarding the 2010 Forester recruitment is still pending in the High Court with no hearings scheduled for years.
They criticised the overall recruitment pace, saying that posts are advertised only to see actual appointments decades later, by which time many aspirants become overage and disqualified.
The forestry graduates have submitted multiple memorandums over the past two years to the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), Commissioner Secretary Forest, Forest Minister, and the Chief Secretary of J&K, but claim that no substantive action has been taken.
In their final appeal, the group urged the Chief Minister of J&K, relevant ministers, and political leaders across parties to intervene and ensure mass recruitment of technically qualified forestry professionals within a set time frame.
“Qualified youth are becoming a burden on their families. The time to act is now,” the statement concluded.
