The Supreme Court criticized the Uttarakhand government for appointing Indian Forest Service officer Rahul as the director of Rajaji Tiger Reserve. The court said the Chief Minister should not act like a king from the feudal era, doing whatever he wants.
Justices BR Gavai, PK Mishra, and KV Vishwanathan stressed the need for public trust in government actions. They questioned why the state government was so attached to the officer, who had been removed from Corbett Tiger Reserve due to illegal tree-cutting allegations.
Public Trust in Question
The court noted that senior officials, including the Principal Secretary and State Forest Minister, opposed the appointment. Yet, the Chief Minister pushed for Rahul’s posting. The court raised concerns over why these disagreements were ignored.
Disciplinary action against Rahul is ongoing. The court warned that such actions could erode public trust in the government.
Appointment Reversed
State government lawyer ANS Nadkarni informed the court that the appointment was withdrawn on September 3. He defended the Chief Minister’s discretion but acknowledged the court’s concerns.
The Supreme Court is also reviewing a case involving illegal tree cutting in Jim Corbett National Park from 2017 to 2022. Both former Forest Minister Harak Singh Rawat and Forest Officer Kishan Chand have faced criticism.
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