Dehradun: The Uttarakhand government has withdrawn the transfer order of Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Pankaj Kumar, a week after the Uttarakhand High Court issued contempt notices to senior state officials for allegedly violating the court’s stay order.
The state government informed the High Court that the transfer order issued against Kumar has been cancelled, following which the court closed the transfer petition.
Uttarakhand HC Had Directed Status Quo on Pankaj Kumar’s Transfer
The matter relates to the transfer of Pankaj Kumar, who was serving as the Director and Conservator of Forests of Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve in Gopeshwar.
The Uttarakhand High Court had earlier directed the state government not to issue any transfer order removing Kumar from his post. Despite the court’s interim protection, the forest department issued a fresh transfer order on April 13, which led to legal proceedings.
Kumar had challenged the transfer, calling it a premature administrative transfer and alleging that it violated the court’s directions.
State Government Cancels Transfer Order After Court Intervention
During the hearing on Monday, the state counsel informed the division bench that the government had cancelled the transfer order issued against Kumar.
After recording the statement, the High Court closed the transfer petition.
The cancellation came after the court had questioned the state authorities over non-compliance with its earlier order protecting Kumar from transfer.
High Court Issued Contempt Notices to Senior Officials
Last week, the Uttarakhand High Court issued contempt notices to three senior government officials for allegedly disregarding the court’s stay order.
Justice Pankaj Purohit issued show-cause notices to:
- RK Sudhanshu, Principal Secretary (Forest), Uttarakhand
- Mukesh Kumar Rai, Joint Secretary, Environment and Forests
- RK Mishra, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF)
The officials were asked to explain why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against them for allegedly violating the court’s directions.
Transfer Order Moved Kumar to Kumaon South, Nainital
Under the April 13 transfer order, Pankaj Kumar was transferred from his position at the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve to the post of Conservator of Forests (Kumaon South, Nainital).
He was also given additional responsibility as Regional Manager at Uttarakhand Forest Development Corporation.
Kumar challenged the order, stating that the transfer was issued despite the High Court’s interim protection and was against judicial directions.
Kumar Filed Contempt Petition Against State Government
Following the state government’s failure to withdraw the transfer order despite his representation, Kumar approached the High Court by filing a civil contempt petition under Section 12 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971.
The petition alleged that the authorities had wilfully ignored the court’s order by issuing and continuing with the transfer decision.
After the government cancelled the transfer order, the High Court closed the matter.
About Pankaj Kumar
Pankaj Kumar is an Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer who was serving as the Director and Conservator of Forests of Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, Gopeshwar, Uttarakhand. He has been involved in forest administration and conservation-related responsibilities in the state.
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