Shimla: The Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu led Himachal Pradesh government has appointed senior Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Sameer Rastogi as the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Head of Forest Force), marking a significant development in the state’s Forest Department. The official notification was issued on Monday by Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena.
A 1988 batch officer, Rastogi had been holding the additional charge of PCCF since January 2025, succeeding Dr. Pavanesh in the role.
With the latest order, he now takes on the position in a full-time capacity, along with the apex scale of ₹2,25,000 (Level 17 in the pay matrix), following the recommendation of the Special Selection Committee.
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Who is Sameer Rastogi?
Mr Rastogi, who hails from Meerut, Uttar Pradesh and is set to retire in July 2025. Over the course of his distinguished career, he has served in several crucial roles including Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF), and Additional PCCF.
He brings decades of diverse experience to his role. He has held various key positions in the Himachal Pradesh Forest Department, including Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (APCCF) and Regional Project Director for the Mid Himalayan Project in Bilaspur.
Rastogi also gained national recognition during his tenure as Chief Vigilance Officer in the public sector enterprise Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers Limited, Mumbai, where he served from February 2019 to February 2024. Since April 6, 2024, he has been steering the JICA Forestry Project as its Chief Project Director. His extensive expertise in forestry, project management, and vigilance makes him well-equipped for this pivotal role.
The appointment is seen as a recognition of Rastogi’s extensive experience and longstanding service in forest conservation and management in Himachal Pradesh.
