The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the Uttarakhand government to complete within three months a departmental inquiry against Indian Forest Service (IFoS) officer Rahul, accused of corruption, and asked the Centre to decide within a month on granting sanction to prosecute him under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
A bench of Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran expressed displeasure over what it termed as “special treatment” given to the officer, who was earlier the director of Corbett Tiger Reserve and was subsequently appointed as the director of Rajaji Tiger Reserve, despite adverse recommendations from multiple authorities.
The bench noted that while the state government had granted sanction for prosecution against other officials implicated in the Corbett Tiger Reserve irregularities, Rahul had initially been spared. The state informed the court that sanction against him was now forwarded to the central government for approval under Section 19 of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
“We direct the Uttarakhand government to conclude the departmental enquiry against the said officer expeditiously and within three months, and the Centre to grant sanction for prosecution under the PC Act and take a decision within one month,” the CJI ordered.
The court came down heavily on the state government, especially Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, for appointing Rahul as Rajaji Tiger Reserve director despite adverse notings by the deputy secretary, principal secretary, and the state’s forest minister.
“There is something like a public trust doctrine in this country. The heads of the executive cannot be expected to be old days’ kings that whatever they have said, they will do. We are not in a feudal era,” the bench remarked.
The judges questioned why the chief minister had “special affection” for the officer, stating, “Just because he is the chief minister, can he do anything?”
The disciplinary proceedings relate to alleged irregularities during Rahul’s tenure at Corbett Tiger Reserve, where several officers were issued show-cause notices. The Central Empowered Committee (CEC) had also raised objections to his postings in light of the ongoing inquiry.
Despite this, the state went ahead with his appointment to the Rajaji Tiger Reserve — a move the apex court said required proper reasoning, especially when multiple levels of the administration had recommended against it.
The court’s stern directives now put pressure on both the state and central governments to expedite proceedings against the officer.
