PrashantNews
In a post on the social media, veteran Congress leader Harish Rawat has tried to warn Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami against the alleged machinations of a state Minister that led him to face the wrath of the Supreme Court on the appointment of Chief Conservator of Forest (CCF) Rahul as Director Rajaji Tiger Reserve.
However, Rawat was obvious in his suggestion that it was the fault of Forest Minister Subodh Uniyal in the whole episode.
Approving the post of the former Chief Minister, top official sources told PrashantNews that it was Uniyal who had approached the Chief Minister for the new appointment of Rahul as Director Rajaji Park despite strong disapproval by Principal Secretary Forest R K Sudhanshu, who had made a noting on the transfer order in this regard.
“If you see the noting on the files (digital), you will be surprised that the Principal Secretary clearly wrote that Rahul should not be appointed as Director Rajaji Park. But it was Uniyal who took a paper file to the CM’s office for transferring Rahul to the post of Director Rajaji Park,” the source claimed. In this regard, the sources claimed that there was a need to closely scan the signatures also.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday censured Dhami for appointing Rahul as Director of Rajaji Tiger Reserve for ignoring the disapproval of the Principal Secretary Forest and others. Rahul was Director Corbett when the alleged illegal felling of trees and the construction of Pankhro Safari took place. Since, Rahul is said to have played a role of whistle-blower, he has not been implicated by the CBI so far in the case. However, a departmental inquiry has been initiated against Rahul in this case.
Interestingly after knowing well that the case regarding the appointment of Rahul as Director Rajaji Park would come up for hearing on Wednesday, the state government had cancelled the new appointment in a huff on Tuesday itself.