Photo SourceL: Babushahi Bureau
Lal Chand Kataruchak: Over 1,000 Forest Dept workers regularized, 519 more to follow
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, January 7, 2026:The Forests and Wildlife Preservation Department has regularized the services of more than 1,000 employees over the past seven months, and a proposal has been sent to the Finance Department, Personnel, and Legal Remembrancer to regularize another 519 senior workers, Forests and Wildlife Preservation Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak said on Tuesday.
These workers, who do not meet age or educational qualifications but have completed 10 years of service, are being considered under the 2023 regularization policy.
Speaking at a meeting with representatives of the Janglat Workers Union at the Forest Complex, Minister Kataruchak emphasized that the welfare of department workers remains a top priority, guided by the vision of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann.
Addressing the union’s demand for the release of salaries for workers given appointment letters on July 30 last year, senior officers informed the Minister that the Integrated Human Resource Management System (IHRMS) IDs have been updated, and salaries would be disbursed shortly. The Minister instructed officers to ensure timely payment so that workers do not face financial difficulties.
During the discussion, the Minister also listened to other concerns raised by the union, assuring that the government is committed to safeguarding the interests of its workforce, which forms an integral part of the department.
Among those present were Secretary of Forests and Wildlife Preservation Priyank Bharti, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Dharminder Sharma, and CCF (Plains) Nidhi Srivastava.