Nabarangpur: The Divisional Forest Officer of Nabarangpur Forest Division, Udayan Subuddhi has suspended Forester Bipin Kumar Harijan of Maidalpur Section under Dabugaon Range with immediate effect over allegations of unauthorised felling of eucalyptus trees and suspected financial irregularities.
The suspension order, issued on September 18, follows prima facie evidence of illegal tree cutting along the Deobandha to Jamadarpada Road during Harijan’s earlier tenure as in-charge Forester of the Mohara Section under Jharigaon Range.
A report submitted on August 31, 2026, by the in-charge Forest Range Officer of Jharigaon Range pointed to circumstantial evidence of an alleged illegal monetary transaction involving the official. Authorities had earlier served Harijan a show-cause notice on August 1, seeking his explanation for the irregularities. His written reply was found unsatisfactory and indicated serious departmental lapses, an office order stated.
“Acting under Clause (a) of Sub-rule (1) of Rule 12 of the Odisha Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1962, the DFO placed him under suspension from the afternoon of September 18 pending the framing of charges and initiation of departmental disciplinary proceedings,” it further noted.
During the suspension period, Harijan’s headquarters has been fixed at the Office of the Divisional Forest Officer, Nabarangpur Forest Division. He has been directed not to leave the headquarters without prior permission from the competent authority and will be entitled to a subsistence allowance as per Rule 90 of the Odisha Service Code, it added.