The Gauhati High Court has issued notice to the Assam government on a petition challenging the third extension granted to the former Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) as Special Chief Secretary (Forests) after his retirement in February 2024.
Chief Justice Ashutosh Kumar and Justice Arun Dev Chowdhury issued the notice on Friday (September 11, 2026).
East Assam conservationist Rohit Chowdhury filed a petition alleging that the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change found lapses when MP Yadav was PCCF of Assam. The petitioner said that the violations included diversion of forest land for non-forest use without the approval of the Central Government, for which the State Government was asked to initiate proceedings against him under Sections 3A and 3B of the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980.
“This public interest litigation is directed against the post-retirement appointment of respondent No. 3 (Mr. Yadav), a former Assam-Meghalaya Indian Forest Service officer, as Special Principal Secretary (Forests) in the Department of Environment and Forests with full financial and administrative powers,” the court said in the notice.
It said Mr. Yadava’s post-retirement work was “despite the fact that the Office Memorandum 2018 permits the contractual employment of retired government employees only in rare and exceptional circumstances.”
Emphasizing “the requirement for a satisfactory performance assessment for any continuation or renewal of cooperation,” the court required a response to the petition by October 15.
The applicant was represented by advocates Abir Phukan and P. Sharma.
Published – September 13, 2026 12:53 pm EST.