Guwahati: The Gauhati High Court wants answers. Justice Michael Zothankhuma and Justice Sanjeev Kumar Sharma ordered the Assam government to explain if it reviewed two critical Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change communications before granting M.K. Yadava a third contract extension. Yadava, a retired Indian Forest Service officer, currently serves as Special Chief Secretary (Forest).
Environmental activist Rohit Choudhury filed PIL 57/2026 to challenge the extension. The court directed Additional Advocate General P.N. Goswami to clarify what action the state took regarding the May 29, 2025, federal notices. Those notices involved alleged violations of the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980, and the 2023 rules.
The state government previously stood by its man. It argued that Yadava acted in the bona fide interest of the state when he permitted the diversion of 28 hectares of forest land in Geleky and 11.5 hectares in the Innerline Reserved Forest. These diversions paved the way for Assam Police commando battalion camps. The government maintains that the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, supports these actions and that the Centre provided final Stage-II approval on February 20, 2025.
Assam officials previously told the Shillong-based regional MoEF&CC office that they would abide by central decisions. However, the state’s Personnel Department filed an affidavit urging the court to dismiss the case. They insisted, "The challenge to Yadava's appointment was not maintainable." They claim the PIL attempts to reopen matters already settled by the court’s dismissal of an earlier petition on March 18, 2025.
Yadava retired in February 2024. He signed a one-year contract on February 29, 2024, followed by two extensions. The cabinet approved his third term on May 13, 2026, with the official order arriving on May 14, 2026. The high court will revisit the case on Thursday, November 12.
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