SC rap to Dhami
THE Supreme Court’s rebuke to Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Wednesday over his decision to appoint IFS officer Rahul as the director of the Rajaji Tiger Reserve underscores the critical importance of public trust in governance. The choice of Dhami, made against the objections of the principal secretary and forest minister, signals a troubling disregard for institutional checks and balances. The appointed officer was removed two years ago from the Corbett Tiger Reserve for alleged involvement in illegal tree felling, and the case is still being investigated.
In its sharp criticism, the Supreme Court reminded the CM that we were not living in a ‘feudal era’ in which leaders could bypass the due process. Justice BR Gavai’s remark that Dhami should have provided detailed reasoning for his decision reflects a broader concern about the transparency of executive actions, particularly in matters involving environmental conservation. Even though the officer concerned has since been removed from the post, the court’s timely intervention shows that it takes swift action when deemed fit. The prompt action in this case underscores the need to preserve the delicate ecological balance in wildlife reserves, as also the fact that compromises with the integrity of the system, including in appointments, undermine conservation efforts.
This episode serves as a reminder to all authorities across the country that governance must remain accountable, transparent and in the service of public and environmental interests. It raises concerns about political influence over appointments critical to environmental conservation. Political leaders must remember that their decisions can have long-lasting repercussions on sensitive ecological matters. Dhami’s decision to ignore the objections of experts and sideline the due process reflects a worrying trend in which political considerations take precedence over environment. In a country already grappling with ecological degradation, such decisions jeopardise the wildlife and weaken the campaign against environmental crises.
