The Uttarakhand High Court has stayed the state government’s order granting sanction to prosecute the former Director of Corbett Tiger Reserve, Rahul, in connection with alleged illegal construction and tree felling activities in the Pankhro area of Kalagarh Tiger Reserve.
A single bench of Justice Ashish Naithani passed the interim order, observing that the case involves “serious constitutional and legal questions” that require detailed examination during the final hearing. The next date of hearing is scheduled for December 11, 2025.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is probing allegations of large-scale illegal construction and tree felling in the Pankhro area of the Kalagarh Tiger Reserve. Based on its charge sheet, the Uttarakhand government, on September 4, 2025, granted sanction to prosecute several officials. Rahul, who was the Director of Corbett Tiger Reserve at the relevant time, was not among those initially sanctioned for prosecution.
However, on September 16, 2025, the state government issued a fresh order granting sanction to prosecute Rahul as well. He subsequently challenged this order before the High Court.
Rahul’s counsel argued that once the state government had declined to grant sanction for prosecution, it could not legally revisit the decision and issue a fresh sanction. According to the petitioner, this action violates settled legal principles and undermines administrative finality.
Opposing the plea, the CBI contended that the sanction to prosecute was granted after careful examination of evidence and legal advice. The agency maintained that a stay on the sanction order was not justified at this stage.
The court noted that taking prosecutorial action against a serving officer has the potential to cause “irreparable damage” to his service career and reputation. Considering the legal questions involved, Justice Naithani stayed the sanction order until further orders.
The court directed the state government and the CBI to file their replies within four weeks. The petitioner has been given two weeks thereafter to file a rejoinder.
