The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued a contempt notice to Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Rahul and stayed the Uttarakhand High Court’s order that had halted his prosecution in a corruption case linked to illegal activities in the Jim Corbett National Park.
A bench headed by Chief Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran expressed strong displeasure over the officer’s conduct, observing that he had approached the high court despite being aware that the apex court was already monitoring the matter. The bench also directed that all judicial records of the case be transferred to the Supreme Court.
“We are deeply perturbed by the approach of Rahul and the high court,” remarked the CJI, adding that the officer, while being fully aware of the ongoing proceedings in the apex court, chose to bypass it and secure a stay from the high court.
The bench observed, “The high court, being a constitutional court, has vast powers. But when it was a matter of record that the Supreme Court is seized of the issue, it should not have entertained the plea and granted a stay.” The court has now ordered that the high court’s October 10 order be stayed and the proceedings before it withdrawn.
The bench also summoned the officer to appear in person on November 11 and explain why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against him.
The development came to light during the hearing of the long-standing T.N. Godavarman case concerning forest conservation, where senior advocate K. Parmeshwar acts as amicus curiae.
Earlier, on September 17, the Supreme Court had directed the Uttarakhand government to conclude within three months a departmental inquiry against Rahul and for the Centre to grant sanction for his prosecution under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The bench had then questioned the “special treatment” given to the officer, noting that other officials facing similar allegations had already been prosecuted.
The case revolves around alleged corruption and irregularities in the management of Jim Corbett National Park, including illegal construction and tree felling. The officer, who formerly served as Director of Corbett Tiger Reserve, was later appointed as Director of Rajaji Tiger Reserve, a move that the Supreme Court had earlier criticised.
The bench had pulled up the Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami for appointing Rahul despite clear recommendations from multiple officials, including the forest minister, against his posting.
“There is something like a public trust doctrine in this country. The heads of the executive cannot be expected to be old days’ kings… We are not in a feudal era,” the bench had observed during an earlier hearing, questioning why the chief minister had shown “special affection” towards the officer.
The court had emphasised that when every level of the bureaucracy and the minister had advised against his posting, “the least that is expected is that there is some application of mind as to why the proposal is being overruled.”
The matter will next be heard on November 11, when the court will examine the officer’s explanation on why contempt proceedings should not be initiated.
