HOJAI, June 4 – As already reported, the Supreme Court of India has constituted one “Special Investigation Team (SIT)” for protection of forests and wildlife of Assam, as well as other north-eastern states, vide its order dated 13/01/2000, in Writ Petition (Civil) No. 202/95, in the matter of Godavarman Tirumalpad-vs-Union of India & Others. The service of a few Forest officers of Assam in the detection and seizure of illegal timber transportation were recognised by the Supreme Court of India and issued order dated July 14, 2003 in writ petition (Civil) No. 202/95, in the matter of Godavarman Turunalpas-vs-Union of India and others and directed the (SIT) to issue letters of appreciation to the selected officers along with the cash awards. MC Malakar IFs, D Haraprasad IFs, NK Vasu IFs, PJ Vijayakar IFs, Rehaman Chief Conservator of Forests, Assam on May 10, 2004 at a brief presentation ceremony held at Forest Rangers school at Jalukbari, Guwahati. The officers and staff of Hojai viz, Diwakar Das, Range Officer Lumding, KC Goswami, Range Officer, Daboka, were also among the selected officers.
Special Investigation team the team of officers and staff of Hojai were selected for this award for detection of illegal transportation of 880 cu.m of teak round logs originated from the State of Mizoram. These timber arrived in the year 2000/2001 at Lumding railway transhipment yard for transhipment from MG wagons into BG wagons. As per the instruction of the SIT, New Delhi, the transhipment of any forest produce is to be conducted under the supervision of the Forest Range officer concerned.
During such supervision, the Forest Department officials of Hojai detected largescale irregularities and detained all the wagons at Lumding. The matter was subsequently reported to the higher authorities of the Assam Forest Department and the SIT, New Delhi. The SIT conducted thorough investigation and found to be genuine the objections raised by the Forest officials of Hojai. Meanwhile, the owner of the timber had preferred a petition before the Supreme Court of India, which was duly examined and dismissed later. The entire timber in question was subsequently confiscated by the Government and later sold through open auction. This sale has fetched an amount of Rs 28 lakh to the Government exchequer. This incidentally happens to be the first-ever major detection of illegal timber transportation by the Assam Forest Department.
This rare recognition by the Supreme Court of India to the officers and staff of Assam Forest department, especially to Hojai Department has been welcomed by the general public of the region, after spate of negative and motivated publicity received by this Department in this politically sensitive Hojai subdivision, in the wake of Enquiry committee by the Legislative Assembly of Assam in the year 2003.
The appreciation letter reads: “This appreciation letter is issued to PJ Vijaykar, Divisional Forest Officer, Lumding Forest Division, Assam Forest Department, in recognition of meritorious service rendered by him in confiscation and sale of illegal timber being transported by about 241 railway wagons from various loading station in north-eastern States. An award of Rs 10,000 has been given to him pursuant to the Supreme Courts’ order dated July 14, 2003 in writ petition (Civil) No 2002/95”.