Maharashtra authorities suspends MTR Field Director Srinivas Reddy over suicide of forest officer

THE Maharashtra authorities on Wednesday positioned Melghat Tiger Reserve (MTR) Field Director Srinivas Reddy below suspension. Reddy’s suspension has come within the wake of the demise by suicide of Harisal Range Forest Officer Deepali Chavan in Melghat on March 26.
Chavan had left behind a suicide be aware, wherein she accused Gugamal Forest Division Deputy Conservator of Forest Vinod Shivkumar of harassment and talked about that she was taking the acute step due to the harassment.
In the letter, Chavan had talked about that Reddy had did not take motion towards Shivkumar regardless of her bringing the harassment to his discover. In the letter, nonetheless, she had additionally thanked Reddy for help, saying she felt secure when he was round. She had mentioned that solely Shivkumar must be held chargeable for her suicide.
Shivkumar has been arrested by Amravati Police for abetment to suicide. The authorities had come below intense strain from varied quarters, together with politicians and forest staffers’ associations, to droop Reddy.

Reddy has already been transferred from Melghat. But as a substitute of accepting the switch quietly, he selected to put in writing a letter to the Head of Forest Force and likewise to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, saying his switch was unjust. Just a few girls staffers of the Forest Department had additionally met Amravati Member of Parliament Navneet Rana to specific their help for Reddy, solely to get an earful from Rana, who rapped them for supporting somebody being seen as chargeable for the tragic flip of occasions resulting in Chavan’s suicide.
All these maneuvers by Reddy to galvanise help haven’t gone down effectively with the state authorities. Incidentally, Reddy is believed to be the one Tiger Reserve Field Director within the nation holding the rank of further principal chief conservator of forest.
On Tuesday, demonstrations had been held by organisations of forest staffers at Nagpur, demanding motion towards Reddy.
Teosa Congress MLA and Minister for Women and Child Development Yeshomati Thakur additionally met Thackeray on Tuesday and sought Reddy’s suspension. Thakur requested the CM to order an inquiry by Amravati Divisional Commissioner and droop Reddy until the inquiry is full.
In her illustration to the CM, Thakur mentioned that some girl staffers from Melghat had approached the Amravati district collector with grievances about issues at office, and had requested him to do the needful within the matter. Following this, the Collector had put it throughout to Reddy, who didn’t take crucial motion, Thakur has alleged within the letter to the CM.
Meanwhile, the Maharashtra State Commission for Women has additionally issued a discover to Reddy, in search of his rationalization within the matter inside eight days