INTRODUCTION:

The J&K Forest Protection Force was created under Cabinet Decision No. 12/7 dated 02-12-1996 with the sanctioned manpower of 2257. The J&K Forest Protection Force was created with the objective to assist Forest Department and other sister departments in enforcing the Forest Laws on the ground and for better protection of Forests/Wildlife.

ORGANIZATIONAL SETUP:

• The command of the Force is vested with the Director who is of the rank of APCCF. The FPF has its headquarter at Srinagar/Jammu being a move office of the UT.
• The command of the Force at regional level is vested with Joint Directors who are of the rank of Conservator of Forests (ex-cadre) and are operating in their respective areas of responsibility i.e. Kashmir and Jammu regions.
• The Force HQ at the regional level is called Delta Headquarters. In each forest division, a Gamma Unit has been sanctioned which is headed by the Deputy Director with Assistant Director-I being 2nd in command of the Unit. Each Gamma Unit consists of 2 Beta Units and 4 Alpha Units. The Beta unit is headed by an officer of the rank of Assistant Director-II while as the Alpha unit is headed by an Inspector of the Force. Each Alpha unit comprises 1 Inspector, 2 Deputy Inspectors and 8 FPF Guards/Watchers.
• The Forest Protection Force has 30 sanctioned Gamma Units(18 in Jammu & 12 in Kashmir), against which 23 Gamma Units (11 in Jammu & 12 in Kashmir) are operational. These 23 Gamma Units have been established in 23 Forest Divisions, but they operate in all 30 Forest Divisions. This will continue till the remaining Gamma Units are established within the jurisdiction of their respective Territorial Forest Divisions.
• Each Gamma Unit has 3 sanctioned Reporting Centres.

 LEGAL PROVISIONS:

• J&K Forest Protection Force Act, 2001- constitution of Forest Protection Force for better protection and security of forest property. Some of the highlights of the act are:
• Section-3(2)- The force shall be the department of the Government on the pattern of Police Department.
• Section-9 (c)- Assist, on requisition, a forest officer or an officer of the  Wildlife Department  or  an officer of Soil Conservation Department having Territorial jurisdiction  when such requisition  is for the protection of Forest Property.
• Section-9(f)-  to take up such special assignment as may be entrusted to the Force by the Government from time to time.

• Jammu & Kashmir Forest (Protection) Force Rules, 2012 were issued under SRO-264 of 2012 dated 09-08-2012.  These rules govern:
• Working conditions of members of the force with respect to powers, transfers, duties, discipline, punishments, privileges.
• Allowances of the force as per Rule-33 i,e. 2.5 days salary, ration money, risk, kit maintenance etc. at par with Police.
• Seniority of FPF personnel as per Rule-38 i,e. on the basis of merit obtained at the end of initial training course.
• Power to carry & use weapons as per chapter-10.

• Jammu & Kashmir Forest Protection Force (Gazetted/Non-Gazetted) Recruitment Rules were notified vide SRO-421 of 2017 & 422 of 2017 dated 05-10-2017 respectively.

RECRUITMENT AND TRAINING:

• FPF Guards  and Inspectors were recruited by the SSRB during 1997 to 2000.
• Initial trainings were imparted to FPF Inspectors & FPF Guards at Punjab Police Academy, Phillaur and Police Training School Manigam.
• Trainings were imparted to  Forest Protection Force Inspectors/Guards in Forestry at Forest training institutes of the State at Doomi (Akhnoor), Miransaheb & Chiternar (Bandipora). Refresher course for Inspectors & 10-days capsule course for Deputy Directors & Joint Directors were organized at Police Training Academy, Udhampur from 2004 to 2007. Refresher courses for majority of FPF Guards were organized at Police Training Schools at Manigam, Sheeri-Baramulla, Talwara & Kathua.
• Refresher trainings are also imparted from time to time as per the availability of slot at Police Academies/Training Institutes

FUNCTIONS OF THE FORCE: