Shimla, July 7 -- The Himachal Pradesh High Court has ordered the state government to promote two retired Range Forest Officers--Pawan Sharma and Prem Chand, to the post of Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) with retrospective effect from 2003, slamming the government for prolonged litigation and arbitrary denial of legitimate service benefits.

Justice Sandeep Sharma, while delivering the judgment in connected petitions (CWP No. 6145 and 6140 of 2024), said the petitioners had fulfilled all eligibility criteria under the Himachal Pradesh Forest Service Recruitment and Promotion Rules, 2002, and were wrongfully denied promotion even though their juniors had been elevated to the same post.

"The petitioners shall be promoted as Assista...