Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Guwahati: The Gauhati High Court has demanded answers from the Assam government. Chief Justice Ashutosh Kumar and Justice Arun Dev Choudhury issued a formal notice on September 11 regarding the controversial reappointment of retired Indian Forest Service officer MK Yadava.
Yadava retired in February 2024 but secured his third contractual extension as Special Chief Secretary of Forest on May 14. His current contract expires on November 12. Environmental activist Rohit Choudhury filed the petition through advocate Abir Phukan to challenge the move. The court expects a response by the next hearing on October 15.
The petition targets a 2024 policy shift. A 2018 memorandum once required state-empowered committee approval for such roles in rare cases. The government allegedly changed the rules shortly before Yadava retired to bypass committee oversight if the Chief Minister gives prior approval.
The case also highlights legal trouble regarding forest land. The Union Environment Ministry issued a show-cause notice to Yadava in May 2024 for allegedly violating the Van Adhiniyam, 2023. Officials claim he authorized police commando camps on 26 hectares in Geleky and 11 hectares in Damchera without proper clearance. The Ministry directed the state to take legal action against him.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma later wrote to the Union Environment Minister to request post-facto approval for these sites. He cited national security and encroachment concerns. The Ministry eventually granted the request, but the petitioner claims the land diversion caused wider issues. Choudhury specifically points to flooding in the Geleky area this July as a direct consequence. The petitioner stated the move warrants scrutiny, arguing that "the alleged diversion of forest land has wider public-interest implications." The state has not yet issued a formal reply.
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