Supreme Court slams Uttarakhand CM: 'Not a King' in appointment dispute

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami’s decision to appoint a controversial Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer as the director of the Rajaji Tiger Reserve has faced strong criticism from the Supreme Court. The appointment, made despite objections from the state’s forest minister and other senior officials, has been labeled by the Court as an overreach of executive power.

The Bench, comprising Justices BR Gavai, PK Mishra, and KV Viswanathan, emphasized that government heads should not act as "old days' kings" and that the public trust doctrine must be adhered to.

The Supreme Court criticized Dhami for proceeding with the appointment despite clear recommendations against it and ongoing departmental proceedings involving the officer. The Court pointed out that the chief minister "just ignores it," referring to the documented opposition from various officials, including the deputy secretary and the principal secretary. This disregard for the established process and the officer's disciplinary issues were central to the Court’s reprimand.

In response to the Court’s criticism, the state government withdrew the appointment order on September 3. The Bench’s remarks underscore the need for transparency and respect for institutional recommendations, reinforcing that heads of government should operate within the bounds of public trust and not act unilaterally.