Shri. J. V. Sharma (b. 20.06.1932) was a graduate in science from Osmania University, Hyderabad, India. He pursued bachelors in law thereafter and dropped out midway to start his career.
Ironically Sharma commenced his professional career as a teacher in the Govt Aliya in Hyderabad, before plunging into the forestry to pursue his major interest of being a professional forester way back in 1955. After completing his education in forestry, he served the Forest Department of Andhra Pradesh in various capacities. He was professionally trained in the timber extraction procedures in 1976 in tune with the then existing forest policy and practices. In recognition of his performance in service to the cause of forestry, he was inducted in to Indian Forest Service (IFS). He retired from service in 1990 after serving Forest Department of Andhra Pradesh for about 35 years. His untiring and persevering efforts for upholding the forest conservation and vigilance and bringing to book culprits won plaudits even in Supreme Court of India and stand testimony of time.
Mr Sharma has an abiding interest in environment, ecology and allied matters and continues to be active in the cause of tribal development and environmental conservation. His clarity of thought, analysis and articulation coupled with the uncanny knack of blending the domains of forestry & environment with the prevalent laws of the land (civilian laws), and ability to still see the light at the end of tunnel, made him a ready favorite with legions of environmentalists, foresters, civil servants cutting across domains.
In 2007, Mr Sharma became the first man in the country by approaching the High Court of Andhra Pradesh in a Public Interest Litigation to bring into focus the adverse effects of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, popularly known as Forest Rights Act. With his untiring efforts, PILs came to be filed in High Courts of other States like Tamilnadu, Karnataka, Maharastra, Orissa etc.
Mr Sharma is an avid reader, and is proficient in English & Urdu languages. He is a prolific writer of competence and capable of articulating his views forcefully. He writes regularly to ‘Vana Premi’, an in-house journal of the Association of Retired Forest Officers of Andhra Pradesh and few other journals and his articles are read with interest. He has written more than a hundred articles on varied subjects, mainly forests, environment, tribals, etc. He also writes on general issues and current matters.
He is the member of Geoecology Energy Organisation [GEO]
He participates actively in public activities even at his advanced age of 78 years and is keenly associated with Forum for Good Governance, a voluntary organisation of which he is a founder member.
