When the Uttarakhand High Court quashed the suspension of Sub-Divisional Forest Officer (SDO) Rajiv Nayan Nautiyal, it was more than a legal victory for one officer. It reopened questions about environmental governance, administrative accountability, and the challenges faced by officers who attempt to enforce forest laws against powerful interests.
For nearly a year, Mr Nautiyal has remained at the centre of transfers, departmental proceedings, alleged attacks by the mining mafia, and a high-profile legal battle. Despite these setbacks, he says he continued raising concerns about environmental violations in his jurisdiction.
Speaking exclusively to Indian Masterminds, the 2022-batch ACF officer, who was posted as SDO in the Kalsi Range of the Chakrata Forest Division in Dehradun, firmly denied every allegation against him and claimed that his suspension was a consequence of his actions against illegal mining, encroachments, and construction inside reserve forest land.
“The issue is not about an individual officer; it is about protecting forest land and ensuring that laws are followed,” he said.
From the proposed Haripur Ghat project in Kalsi to alleged illegal mining activities, Uttarakhand officer presented his side of the story, explaining why he believes his efforts to enforce forest laws repeatedly brought him into conflict with the administration.
High Court Quashes Suspension
The Uttarakhand High Court recently set aside Mr Nautiyal’s suspension during the very first hearing of his petition. The Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Manoj Kumar Gupta and Justice Subhash Upadhyay held the suspension order unsustainable, while clarifying that the state government remains free to initiate fresh proceedings by following due legal process.
ACF Nautiyal had challenged his June suspension, arguing that it was merely another attempt to remove him from his posting after earlier efforts – including his transfer – had failed.
Earlier, the Forest Department had suspended him under the Uttarakhand Government Servant (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, citing allegations that he skipped a meeting convened by the Forest Minister, concealed information during his service confirmation process, and failed to provide satisfactory responses to a show-cause notice.
‘The Charges Are Completely False’
Rejecting every allegation, Mr Nautiyal told Indian Masterminds that none of the accusations had any substance.
“There is no rule that mandates my presence in the minister’s meeting. On that very day, I was in the field rescuing a person who had been attacked by a bear. Should I have saved a life or attended a meeting? Normally, such meetings are attended by senior officers like the DFO. These allegations are completely false.”
He also dismissed accusations that he neglected field duties.
“For months, I wasn’t even being provided fuel for my official vehicle. Mobility is essential for a Forest Officer. Whatever I could spend from my own pocket, I did, but there is a limit. Then they accuse me of not visiting the field. These are fabricated allegations.”
How the Conflict Began
According to ACF Nautiyal, the controversy began after he objected to the construction of the proposed Haripur Ghat near Kalsi.
He explained that the project site falls within reserve forest land adjoining the Yamuna River, an area close to the historic Ashoka Rock Edict. Although the Chief Minister announced the project, Nautiyal says it later emerged during official inspection that the land was legally classified as reserved forest, requiring approval under the Forest Conservation Act before any construction could proceed.
Instead, the administration invoked provisions of the Disaster Management Act, arguing that the work was necessary for public safety along the riverbank.
Mr Nautiyal disagreed with that interpretation. “The Disaster Management Act permits safety-related works, not construction of ghats or temples. Forest laws cannot simply be bypassed.”
He says he immediately initiated proceedings to stop the work and informed senior officials.
Construction Continued Despite Objections
Nautiyal claims that after he objected, attempts were made to suggest that the land was not part of the reserve forest.
However, according to him, a fresh survey again confirmed that it was reserved forest.
“I even installed a Forest Department board declaring that the land belonged to the department and that no construction should take place there.”
A few days later, he says, he was transferred.
The High Court subsequently stayed his transfer, observing that it violated the Uttarakhand Annual Transfer for Public Servants Act, 2017.
When he returned to his post, Nautiyal says the board had disappeared.
“I directed that a forest offence case be registered. Even today, no such case has been registered.”
Illegal Mining and Encroachments
Beyond the Haripur Ghat issue, Nautiyal says illegal mining remains one of the biggest environmental concerns in his jurisdiction.
He alleged that mining activities have continued in and around the Asan Conservation Reserve despite Supreme Court restrictions requiring wildlife clearances.
“There are two major issues here – encroachment and illegal mining. The parties involved appear to have significant influence, whether inside the department or elsewhere. That is why no effective action is being taken.”
According to him, mining companies operated vehicles without registration numbers, built roads by encroaching upon reserve forest land, and continued extraction despite repeated objections.
Although a committee was later constituted to examine the issue, Nautiyal claims he was never consulted while its report remains undisclosed.
“Mining continues even today. The report has not been made public.”
He believes the matter could eventually reach the Supreme Court.
Attack by the Mining Mafia
The suspension was not the only controversy surrounding the officer.
Earlier this year, Mr Nautiyal was allegedly assaulted while conducting routine patrol duty against illegal mining. The incident led to an FIR, following which the Uttarakhand High Court ordered suspension of the entire staff of the Vikas Nagar police station over their handling of the matter.
For Nautiyal, the attack reinforced the risks associated with enforcing environmental laws in sensitive regions.
‘I Will Continue My Work’
Despite the legal battle, suspension, transfer and repeated departmental proceedings, Nautiyal says his approach will remain unchanged.
After the High Court restored his position, he immediately resumed duty.
“It is my routine responsibility as an SDO to enforce the law. I need to pick up where I left off. I didn’t start this just to leave it half-done. If something wrong has happened, action must reach its logical conclusion.”
About the Officer
Rajiv Nayan Nautiyal belongs to the first batch of Assistant Conservators of Forests (ACF) recruited by Uttarakhand in 2022. After completing two years of training, he joined the Forest Department in 2024 and currently serves as Sub-Divisional Forest Officer in Kalsi.
Originally from Purola in Uttarkashi district, Nautiyal is a B.Tech graduate. Before joining the Uttarakhand Forest Service, he spent nearly eight years as a Senior Engineer at Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) in Ghaziabad.
His first posting was as SDO in Rishikesh before being transferred to Kalsi.
Claims of Administrative Harassment
Mr Nautiyal also alleged that he repeatedly informed senior officers about illegal mining and encroachments but received little support.
Instead, he says, he faced transfers, repeated show-cause notices and denial of basic operational resources.
“For the last eight to ten months, even fuel for official vehicles has not been provided. Sometimes they say there is no budget; sometimes there are other excuses. These are different ways of harassing an officer.”
A Larger Debate
While the Forest Department maintains that disciplinary proceedings were initiated on administrative grounds, Nautiyal insists the action was intended to silence him after he questioned projects inside reserve forests and acted against illegal mining.
With the High Court now restoring him to duty, the legal battle over his suspension may have ended, but the larger questions he has raised about forest protection, administrative accountability and enforcement against influential interests remain unresolved. As he returns to the field, Nautiyal says his priority is unchanged: enforcing the law without compromise.
“My duty is simple – to protect the forest and enforce the law. That is exactly what I intend to continue doing.”
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