SC pulls up U'khand CM Dhami for his decision to appoint an IFS as director of Rajaji Tiger Reserve

The Supreme Court on Wednesday expressed its strong disapproval of Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Dhami's decision to appoint Indian Forest Service officer Rahul as director of Rajaji Tiger Reserve.

Rahul was earlier removed from Corbett Tiger Reserve on the charges of illegal cutting of trees.

A bench of justices BR Gavai, Prashant Mishra and KV Viswanathan underlined the importance of the public trust doctrine.


"We are not in a feudal era where whatever the king says... At least there should have been some application of mind with reasons in writing when he differed from his minister and chief secretary. Just because he is chief minister, can he do anything... Either that officer should be exonerated or the departmental proceedings dropped. There is something called public trust doctrine," the bench said.

Dhami Govt given time by SC
The counsel for the state government defended the CM's decision, arguing that Dhami had the discretion to make such appointments. The state assured that it would provide a detailed explanation during the next hearing.

Report of SC-Constituted Committee Damning
The remarks were made by the bench following a report by the central empowered committee formed by SC to oversee forest-related matters. As per the report, the appointment of the officer prima facie did not instill confidence in the stakeholders involved in wildlife conservation. The report said that the matter of irregularities in the Corbett Tiger Reserve is still under consideration by SC and that disciplinary proceedings against the officer are still pending. The report highlighted that the matter is under probe by CBI and that the state.

'Order Withdrawn' on Tuesday
Dehradun The order posting the officer as Rajaji reserve's director was withdrawn on Tuesday, the state government sources said.