Govt notifies Forest Officers’ Transfer Policy

KOHIMA, NOV 6 (NPN): The State government has notified the Nagaland Forest Department Officers’ Transfer Policy, 2026, making postings in remote districts mandatory for promotion and introducing a structured system of transfers to ensure equitable deployment and professional development.
Issued by the Department of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, the policy covers officers from Deputy Ranger Officer to Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF)/Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), including Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers posted in Nagaland up to the DCF/DFO rank, subject to applicable service rules. It supersedes all previous orders and guidelines on the subject.
For transfer purposes, districts have been classified into three categories based on accessibility, infrastructure and remoteness. Category A comprises Dimapur, Chümoukedima, Niuland, Kohima, Tseminyu, Peren and Mokokchung; Category B includes Zunheboto, Wokha, Phek and Meluri; while Category C covers Mon, Longleng, Tuensang, Shamator, Noklak and Kiphire.
The standard tenure at a posting station has been fixed at a minimum of three and a maximum of five years. Transfers before completion of three years will ordinarily not be permitted, except on grounds of public service or administrative necessity, disciplinary proceedings, serious medical conditions or other exceptional circumstances. Reasons for early administrative transfers must be recorded in writing. Officers transferred early on personal grounds will not be entitled to transfer allowance.
A key provision requires every officer to complete at least one full three-year term in Category C. Officers must also complete a minimum of two years in Category B to qualify for the next promotion. Promotion eligibility will require either three years in Category C and two years in Category B, or five continuous years in Category C. Officers who have not completed the mandatory Category C service will not be eligible for promotion to the next rank.
Officers who have served more than five years continuously in Category C, or completed three years in Category C and two years in Category B without an intervening Category A posting, may seek transfer to Category A, with such requests considered on priority.
The policy also restricts prolonged postings in an officer’s home district when it falls under Category B or C. After completing the prescribed tenure, Category B officers will ordinarily be transferred to Category C or A, while Category C officers will be transferred to Category A or B. Those willing to continue in Category C may be posted to another Category C district other than their home district.
IFS officers posted in Nagaland as DCF will also be required to begin their tenure in Category C and accept Category C or B postings whenever directed by the competent authority.
The policy permits central deputation to Government of India ministries, departments and Central Public Sector Undertakings, inter-cadre deputation to another State cadre, and intra-State deputation to other departments, corporations or authorities. All deputations will require a No Objection Certificate from the State government under the All India Services (Cadre) Rules, 1954. The government may consider an officer’s Category B or C service while deciding on an NOC. Officers returning from deputation may be posted to either category to complete mandatory requirements.
It also safeguards the inter se seniority of State Forest Service officers for induction into the IFS, clarifying that mandatory Category B and C postings will not affect seniority, which will continue to be determined under applicable service rules.
For routine transfers, applications will be invited annually by the Office of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force (PCCF & HoFF) between January and March. Transfers will ordinarily be conducted once a year, preferably between November and January, while ad hoc and out-of-season transfers are discouraged.
Before the annual transfer exercise, the department will identify officers completing or nearing the end of their tenure, map vacancies across the three categories and prepare a draft transfer list for approval by the competent authority. Officers will be given reasonable notice before joining their new stations. The PCCF & HoFF office will maintain consolidated, group-wise posting registers as the authoritative records for transfer planning.
The policy also provides for rotation across territorial divisions, wildlife divisions and functional or headquarters divisions, wherever possible, to broaden professional experience.
It clarifies that no officer will have an individual right to claim a particular transfer or posting. Relaxation may be permitted in exceptional cases involving extreme hardship or public service requirements, at the discretion of the competent authority. The government reserves the right to amend, modify or revoke any provision in the public interest.
The notification was issued under the signature of Principal Secretary and Development Commissioner Y. Kikheto Sema, IAS. The forwarding memorandum to the IPR Department was signed by Secretary to the Government of Nagaland Dr. Y. Atsase Thongtsar.