Assam Government Ends Retired Forest Officer Yadava's Tenure, Moves Him to Mines Department

The Assam government informed the Gauhati High Court on Thursday that it will not extend the tenure of retired Indian Forest Service officer MK Yadava in the forest department. Yadava will instead join the Mines and Minerals Department on a contract.

Court Case and PIL

Environmental activist Rohit Choudhury filed a Public Interest Litigation challenging Yadava's repeated re-appointments in the forest department. A division bench of Justices Michael Zothankhuma and Sanjeev Kumar Sharma disposed of the petition after recording the state government's submission. Additional Advocate General PN Goswami stated that Yadava's third post-retirement contractual term as special chief secretary ended on November 11.

Past Controversies

The Environment Ministry's regional office in Shillong directed action against Yadava in 2025. The ministry found him responsible for authorising two police commando battalion camps on forest land. These camps were built on 26 hectares in the Geleky forest of Sivasagar district and 11 hectares in Damchera of Hailakandi district. The ministry termed these actions a gross violation of forest laws while Yadava served as principal chief conservator of forests.

Rule Changes and Extensions

Choudhury's petition highlighted that a 2018 state memorandum allowed post-retirement jobs only in rare cases. The state modified this rule in 2024 just days before Yadava's retirement in February that year. The change removed the need for an empowered committee's approval if the Chief Minister already approved the proposal. Yadava subsequently received three extensions in February 2024, February 2025, and March of this year.

Context

Post-retirement extensions for senior bureaucrats often invite legal scrutiny when rules are modified close to retirement dates. Environmental laws in India strictly protect forest land from non-forestry uses like military or police construction without prior central approvals. Courts regularly examine government compliance with service rules during public interest litigations.