The Supreme Court questioned on Wednesday Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami’s decision to appoint an Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer as the director of Rajaji Tiger Reserve.
The officer was earlier removed from Corbett Tiger Reserve over allegations of illegal tree-cutting.
Despite objections from the state's forest minister and other officials, Dhami proceeded with the appointment, drawing a sharp criticism from a Bench of Justices BR Gavai, PK Mishra and KV Viswanathan.
"Heads of governments cannot act like kings from the old days," the court said, adding that "we are not in a feudal era." "Just because he is the chief minister, can he do anything?" the Bench questioned.
“We are not in a feudal era jahan jo bhi raja bole... (We are not in a feudal era where whatever the king says stays). At least there should have been some application of mind with reasons in writing, when he (Dhami) differed from his minister and chief secretary."
"Either that officer should be exonerated or the departmental proceedings be dropped. There is something called public trust doctrine,” the bench led by Justice BR Gavai remarked.
The judges also raised concerns about the Chief Minister's "special affection" for the officer, noting that disciplinary proceedings were ongoing against him.
The officer in question, Rahul, a senior IFS officer and former director of the Corbett Tiger Reserve, is facing departmental proceedings. Senior advocate ANS Nadkarni, representing the state, argued that Rahul was being unfairly targeted. However, the court pointed out that the Chief Minister had ignored multiple objections from senior officials, including the state's forest minister, who had advised against the appointment.
(With agency inputs)
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