Uttarakhand Forest Department relieved Rahul of his duties as Director of Rajaji Tiger Reserve. The government informed the Supreme Court of this decision the following day. In response, the court dismissed a petition related to his removal.
Dehradun: The Uttarakhand Government removed Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Rahul from his position as Director of the Rajaji Tiger Reserve, following directives from Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.
On Tuesday, September 3, the Forest Department issued an order relieving Rahul of his duties. The state government informed the Supreme Court of this decision the following day, resulting in the dismissal of a related petition.
The government stated,
“The letter dated 03.09.2024, the Uttarakhand Government, after due consideration, relieved Shri Rahul from Director of Rajaji Tiger Reserve with immediate effect and appoints him to the post of Chief Forest Conservator Monitoring, Evaluation, IT and Modernisation, Dehradun,”
The decision to remove Rahul from his position as Director of Rajaji Tiger Reserve came after the Supreme Court raised concerns about his appointment, referencing his previous removal from Corbett Tiger Reserve due to allegations of illegal tree felling.
As per reports, the Forest Department acted upon instructions from Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami in making this decision.
In recent years, the state government transferred several IFS officers, during which Rahul appointed as the Director of Rajaji National Park.
Rahul has now been reassigned to the position of Chief Forest Conservator, responsible for Monitoring, Evaluation, IT, and Modernisation. The Forest Department’s Deputy Secretary officially issued the orders for his reassignment. The government submitted this information to the Supreme Court during the hearing of a related petition on Wednesday.
Uttarakhand Forest Minister Subodh Uniyal recently clarified that the decision to appoint Rahul as the Director of Rajaji Tiger Reserve had been made with full agreement between him and the Chief Minister.
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Rajaji Tiger Reserve is a renowned national park and tiger reserve located in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand. Spanning across three districts Haridwar, Dehradun, and Pauri Garhwal the reserve is named after C. Rajagopalachari, a prominent Indian freedom fighter. The park covers an area of about 820 square kilometers and is part of the larger Shivalik Elephant Reserve, known for its significant elephant population.
Rajaji Tiger Reserve is home to a rich diversity of wildlife, including tigers, leopards, elephants, deer, and several species of birds. The park’s varied terrain includes dense forests, grasslands, and rivers, providing an ideal habitat for many endangered and rare species.
The reserve is a popular destination for nature enthusiasts and wildlife lovers, offering opportunities for safaris and birdwatching.