With the Madras High Court dismissing an appeal moved by the State government, the first woman Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer from Tamil Nadu has won a legal battle in securing a posting appropriate to her seniority and pay scale.
A Division Bench of Justices Huluvadi G. Ramesh and K. Ravichandrabaabu has directed the State government to reinstate the 1983-batch IFS officer in the cadre of Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (APCC), who is without salary for over 14 months.
Aruna Basu Sarcar, who was known for her stringent actions against illegal sandal and red sanders smuggling, was serving as Director of Tamil Nadu Forest Academy (TNFA). Through a government order dated February 21, 2015, the government deputed her to Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, as Dean of Forestry College, Mettupalayam.
Claiming that the latest posting was at least two grades subordinate to her seniority and that she would face a salary cut of about Rs. 30,000, Ms. Sarcar went on leave from March 2, 2015. She also assailed the order before the Central Administrative Tribunal .
On January 1, the CAT ordered in favour of the officer , and directed the government to reinstate her in APCCF cadre post. However, the government chose to challenge the directive.
