https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Uttarakhand: CM Dhami’s Decision To Reappoint IFS Officer Rahul Overruling Objections Has Been Rebuked In The SC

During the crucial hearing, a senior advocate, A N S Nadkarni, said that the CM was only trying not to sacrifice a "good officer"
Indian Masterminds Stories

In a major development, the Supreme Court of India took Uttrakhand’s CM, Mr. Pushkar Singh Dhami, at cross hands by nulling his decision to appoint IFS officer Rahul as field director of the Rajaji Tiger Reserve after overruling objections from the principal secretary and the forest minister.

During the crucial hearing, a senior advocate, A N S Nadkarni, said that the CM was only trying not to sacrifice a “good officer,” hearing which Justice B R Gavai, presiding over a three-judge bench, said that Mr. Dhami should at least have recorded the reasons for his disagreement with the objections raised by his own officials. Justice Gavai even remarked, “We are not in the feudal era.. ki raja jaise bole waisa chale (we must not agree whatever the ‘king’ says).”

There is something like a public trust doctrine in this country. The heads of the executive cannot be expected to be old-day kings that whatever they say they will do. When a specific noting is there right from the first officer, that is the section officer, endorsed by the Deputy Secretary, endorsed by by the Principal Secretary, endorsed by the honourable Minister that on account of ABC reasons, he should not be posted there, you think that despite of that, just because he is chief minister, he can do anything?” remarked Justice Gavai.

He further observed, “There is a specific note … that departmental proceedings are initiated against him, that CBI enquiry is there and therefore he should not be posted anywhere in the tiger reserve. That is endorsed by the deputy secretary, that is endorsed by the principal secretary and the forest minister and this is all ignored by the chief minister!…

What Is The Matter?

The Uttarakhand government had recently removed Indian Forest Service officer Rahul — he uses only his first name — from the office of Director, Rajaji Tiger Reserve. Officer Rahul has now been posted as Chief Conservator of Forests of the Monitoring, Evaluation, IT, and Modernization division, the position he held before moving to the Rajaji Reserve.

Officer Rahul had stated, “Though there is no anomaly in my transfer order and it can pass any judicial scrutiny, the process may be quite lengthy and tiresome… (and) I may not be able to do proper justice to my present assignment, which requires focused attention in the multifarious activities of the tiger reserve. So I requested the government to discharge me of the responsibilities of Rajaji.

The contentious matter came up before the bench also comprising Justices P K Mishra and K V Viswanathan, following a report submitted by the Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC), Advocate Nadkarni submitted that in deference to the court, “the order posting Rahul, chief conservator of forest, as the field director of the Rajaji national park, has been withdrawn.”

It is pertinent to mention Chief Minister Dhami had overruled the state Forest Minister and the Chief Secretary to hand the charge of Rajaji TR to Rahul who was removed two years ago as head of the Corbett TR after the Uttarakhand High Court took note of illegal tree felling and construction there.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
dig-bhullar-file-photo
Punjab IPS Officer Harcharan Singh Bhullar Faces New FIR Over Liquor Seizure at Samrala Farmhouse
Tenzin-Yangki-of-Arunachal-Pradesh-became-the-first-women-IPS-officer-from-the-State
Arunachal Pradesh’s First Woman IPS Officer: Tenzin Yangki Joins Indian Police Service
750x450_sanjiv-chaturvedi
IFS Officer Sanjiv Chaturvedi’s Relentless Fight Against Corruption Puts Judiciary and Executive Under Spotlight
Bihar Election 2025
Bihar Rising: CMs Manik Saha and Nayab Singh Saini Hail NDA’s Transformative Governance, Urge Voters to Reject Jungle Raj
Pushkar Singh Dhami CM
Uttarakhand Reclaims 9,000+ Acres from Encroachers: CM Dhami Announces Bold Steps for Law, Order, and Education Reform
CM Yogi Adityanath
CM Yogi Adityanath to Celebrate Diwali in Slums and Nishad Colony: Ayodhya Deepotsav Goes Inclusive and Transformational
Yogi Adityanth
UP Gears Up for Festive Season: CM Yogi Adityanath Orders 24x7 Surveillance, Drone Patrols, and Clean Cities
IPS Anjani Kuma IPS Daljit Singh Chaudhary
Brotherhood Rekindled: 1990-Batch IPS Officers Daljit Chaudhary & Anjani Kumar Reunite at SVPNPA After Decades of Distinguished Service
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-16 at 15.16
The Many Facets of Former IRS Officer and Author, Giselle Mehta | Video Interview
IDES Saquib Alam
Beyond IAS and IPS: The Inspiring Work of an IDES officer | Video Interview 
IDES Saquib Alam
UPSC Strategy & Mindset Tips from IDES Officer Saquib Alam | Video Interview 
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
Ankita Parashar RAS 2023
4 Attempts, 1 Dream, 0 Excuses: Meet RAS Topper Ankita Parashar, Who Fulfilled a Daughter’s Promise & Secured Rank 2 | Exclusive Interview
Ankita Parashar, a teacher-turned-officer from Pushkar, fulfilled her late father’s dream by securing...
Kushal Chaudhary RAS
From Lab Assistant’s Grit to Rajasthan Topper: How Kushal Chaudhary Topped RAS 2023 with Self-Study | Preparation, Strategy & Interview
Kushal Chaudhary, a farmer’s son and lab assistant from Ajmer, topped RAS 2023 through self-study, overcoming...
Ruchi Jat MPPSC
She Worked in Fields, Danced Ghoomar - Now She’ll Govern Districts: Ruchi Jat Cracks MPPSC 2024 with Rank 6, Becomes Deputy Collector
From a farmer's daughter in Pipalkhunta to securing 6th rank in MPPSC 2024, Ruchi Jat's inspiring journey...
Social Media
IFS Parveen Kaswan
Heartbreak by the River: 15-Day-Old Elephant Calf Rejected by Mother, Rescued by IFS Parveen Kaswan and His Team
Jaldapra, West Bengal: In a moving incident that tugs at the heart, a 15-day-old elephant calf was rescued...
Ashwini Bhide IAS and Anand Mahindra
Who Is IAS Ashwini Bhide, Hailed as a Role Model for Mumbai Metro Transformation by Anand Mahindra?
From heritage to high-tech: Bhide’s leadership in Metro Line 3 earns public praise and admiration
World Rhino Day India
On World Rhino Day, IFS Officer Parveen Kaswan Shares Rare Insights - India Now Hosts 80% of the World’s One-Horned Rhinos
September 22 Marks Global Call for Rhino Conservation; India Holds 80% of World’s Greater One-Horned...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
dig-bhullar-file-photo
Punjab IPS Officer Harcharan Singh Bhullar Faces New FIR Over Liquor Seizure at Samrala Farmhouse
Tenzin-Yangki-of-Arunachal-Pradesh-became-the-first-women-IPS-officer-from-the-State
Arunachal Pradesh’s First Woman IPS Officer: Tenzin Yangki Joins Indian Police Service
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-16 at 15.16
IDES Saquib Alam
IDES Saquib Alam
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT