When contacted, a senior officer in the state government termed the move as “administrative transfers".In a major rejig in the state’s bureaucracy, the Gujarat government has transferred Principal Chief Conservator of Forests & Head of the Forest Force (PCCF & HoFF) Anirudh Pratap Singh and appointed him as the managing director of Gujarat Forest Development Corporation Limited in Vadodara. While transferring Singh, the government also ordered his immediate junior Dr Jaipal Singh to hold the additional charge as in-charge PCCF & HoFF “until further orders”.The Forests and Environment Department of the state government issued a notification to this effect on Monday. The notification covers transfer or allotment of additional charge of/to four more senior Indian Forest Services (IFS) officers in the state.Anirudh Singh is a Gujarat-cadre IFS officer of the 1990 batch. A native of Uttar Pradesh, he was appointed as the HoFF in Gujarat in January last year. Jaipal Singh of the 1991 batch is the senior-most IFS officer in Gujarat cadre after Anirudh Singh. Jaipal Singh holds the regular post of PCCF, Wildlife and Chief Wildlife Warden of Gujarat.The development has aroused curiosity as it is considered very rare for an HoFF to be transferred and replaced by his immediate junior in Gujarat.The four other IFS officers who were transferred included Sandeep Kumar, Anshuman Sharma, Nisha Raj and Sadik Sallauddin Mujawar.Kumar (2005) has been transferred from his current post of conservator of forests, Vadodara Circle to the post of conservator of forests, Working Plan, Gandhinagar.Sharma (2008) is currently the managing director of Gujarat State Forest Development Corporation Limited. He has been appointed as the chief conservator of forests (Development & Management).Story continues below this adRaj is the conservator of forests, Kevadia Wildlife Circle, Kevadia and she has been given additional charge of the post of Chief Conservator of Forests, Vadodara Circle.Mujawar has been transferred from his current posting as the deputy conservator of forests, Administration in Gandhinagar to the post of deputy conservator of forests, PLO.When contacted, a senior officer in the state government termed the move as “administrative transfers”.Highly placed sources in the government said on the condition of anonymity that the transfer of Anirudh Singh from the post of HoFF and appointment of Jaipal Singh as his replacement could possibly be to strengthen the prospect of the latter’s appointment as the director general (Forest) in the Central Government as his name has been sent for the top post in Centre. Parimal A Dabhi works with The Indian Express as Chief of Bureau, focusing on the state of Gujarat. Leveraging his seniority and access, Dabhi is recognized for his reporting on the complex interplay of law, politics, social justice, and governance within the region. Expertise & Authority Core Authority (Social Justice and Law): Dabhi is a key source for in-depth coverage of caste-based violence, discrimination, and the state's response to social movements, particularly those involving Patidar, Dalit and OBC communities. His reporting focuses on the societal and legal fallout of these issues: Caste and Discrimination: He has reported extensively on social boycotts and instances of violence against Dalits (such as the attack on a Dalit wedding party in Patan), the community's demands (like refusing to pick carcasses), and the political responses from leaders like Jignesh Mevani. Judicial and Legal Affairs: He tracks significant, high-stakes legal cases and judgments that set precedents in Gujarat, including the convictions under the stringent Gujarat Animal Preservation Act (cow slaughter), 2002 Gujarat riots and developments in cases involving former police officers facing charges of wrongful confinement and fake encounters. Political and Administrative Oversight: Dabhi provides essential coverage of the inner workings of the state government and the opposition, ensuring a high degree of Trustworthiness in political analysis: State Assembly Proceedings: He frequently reports directly from the Gujarat Assembly, covering Question Hour, discussion on various Bills, debates on budgetary demands for departments like Social Justice, and ministerial statements on issues like illegal mining, job quotas for locals, and satellite-based farm loss surveys. Electoral Politics: His work details key political developments, including election analysis (voter turnout records), party organizational changes (like the end of C R Patil’s tenure as BJP chief), and campaign dynamics. ... Read MoreStay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:ahmedabad