Concerns Raised Over Assam Forest Protection Force Deployment for Elections

Call to Retract AFPF Deployment Order

New Delhi, March 30: A coalition of former government officials and wildlife advocates is urging the Assam government to withdraw its recent directive mandating the assignment of approximately 1,600 personnel from the Assam Forest Protection Force (AFPF) for the upcoming state elections.

In an open letter, these individuals argue that utilizing AFPF members in this manner would compromise the protection of forests and wildlife, violating established legal and administrative protocols.

The letter emphasizes that according to the guidelines set forth by the Election Commission of India (ECI), forest personnel and serving officials, including senior officers from the Indian Forest Service (IFS), should not be assigned to election-related tasks.

Authored by Prakriti Srivastava, the former principal chief conservator of forests in Kerala, the letter has garnered signatures from notable figures such as Meena Gupta, former secretary of the Environment Ministry, Dr. AK Jha, former PCCF of Maharashtra, Dr. Uma Shankar Singh, former PCCF of Uttar Pradesh, Prerna Singh Bindra, a former member of the National Board of Wildlife's standing committee, and wildlife conservationist Debadityo Sinha.

Additionally, the letter references a Supreme Court ruling from 2024 that exempted forest officials and their vehicles from being deployed for election duties.

"This situation demands immediate action to prevent administrative overreach and to maintain the rule of law, ensuring that our forests and wildlife habitats are safeguarded from exploitation in the absence of field personnel," the letter states.

The order from Assam's environment department, issued on March 19, instructed the deployment of AFPF members to support state police during the elections scheduled for April 9. The personnel are expected to report to the Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) by April 3 and return on April 10.