After a ineligible conflict that stretched implicit 23 years, the authorities has yet sanctioned the work benefits to a radical of wood officials who were suspended successful transportation with the 2002 Mathikettan onshore encroachment case.
An bid issued by Forest Under Secretary Seetha S. Lakshmi states that the authorities had withdrawn each charges against the officials and their work and retirement-related benefits volition beryllium allotted. It states that the Additional Principal Chief Forest Conservator had recommended to the authorities to retreat the disciplinary enactment against the officials and reconstruct the work during the suspension period.
“The authorities conducted a elaborate scrutiny of the applications of the officials and the recommendations of the wood conservator and decided to driblet each charges against them and reconstruct the service-related benefits,” says the order.
On August 2, The Hindu had reported the plight of wood officials and their agelong hold for justice..
Mary Francis, woman of erstwhile Devikulam Range Officer V.K. Francis, who was among the suspended officials, says that helium yet got justice. “We are pleased with the authorities bid to reconstruct work and status benefits of Mr. Francis and different officials. They person been made scapegoats successful the Mathikettan issue. In reality, they had acted against the encroachers. Finally, the authorities has acknowledged their innocence,” she says.
K.K. Jayaprakash, different official, says the authorities determination to driblet charges has travel arsenic a large alleviation for them.
The onshore drawback lawsuit successful Mathikettan successful Idukki territory had grabbed headlines aft the sojourn of the past Leader of the Opposition V.S. Achuthanandan successful 2002.
Following his visit, the authorities suspended six wood officials and 7 gross staff, accusing them of providing enactment to the encroachment. A Vigilance lawsuit was registered the aforesaid year, starring to a prolonged ineligible battle.
In February 2024, the Vigilance tribunal successful Muvattupuzha had acquitted each the 13 officers. Even a twelvemonth aft the verdict, the authorities did not retreat the charges oregon reconstruct the work benefits of the suspension play of the wood officials. Now, the authorities determination has travel arsenic a large alleviation for them, accidental the officers.
