Photo Courtesy: nenow
Guwahati: The Gauhati High Court wants answers. Chief Justice Ashutosh Kumar and Justice Arun Dev Choudhury issued a formal notice to the Assam government on Friday, September 11. They ordered the state to respond by October 15 regarding the third post-retirement extension given to M.K. Yadava. Yadava, a former Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, currently serves as Special Chief Secretary for the Forest department.
Rohit Choudhury, a conservationist from eastern Assam, filed the petition. He claims the re-engagement is illegal. Yadava retired in February 2024, but the state kept him on the payroll. The petition points to the Personnel Department's 2018 memorandum, which limits contractual work for retirees to rare and exceptional cases. The court notice specifically mentions the state is challenging the “post-retirement engagement” of Yadava, who retains full financial and administrative powers.
Controversy shadows his career. The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change previously flagged lapses during his time as PCCF. Officials specifically cited the diversion of forest land for non-forest use without federal approval. The Ministry ordered the state to pursue action under the Van Sanrakshan Adhiniyam, 1980, but the Assam government has not acted.
Yadava’s career path remains under scrutiny. He finished his formal service on February 29, 2024. The state first re-engaged him in March 2024, followed by a cabinet extension in February 2025. On May 14, 2026, the cabinet approved another six-month stint starting May 12. Advocates Abir Phukan and P. Sharma represent the petitioner. This legal fight also touches on land encroachment issues in Manas National Park and Tiger Reserve, specifically within the Panbari and Betbari regions.
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