Third extension of former Assam PCCF challenged; Gauhati High Court issues notice
The Gauhati High Court has issued a notice to the Assam government regarding a petition challenging the repeated post-retirement contract extensions of former PCCF M.K. Yadava. The petitioner alleges that Yadava faced previous administrative lapses regarding forest land diversion.
Why it matters
The case questions the legality and transparency of re-employing retired government officials in high-power administrative roles.
The Gauhati High Court has issued notice to the Assam government based on a petition challenging the third extension of a former Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) as Special Chief Secretary (Forests) after his retirement in February 2024.
Chief Justice Ashutosh Kumar and Justice Arun Dev Choudhury issued the notice on Friday (September 11, 2026).
Eastern Assam-based conservationist Rohit Choudhury had filed the petition, arguing that the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change found lapses when M.K. Yadava was Assam’s PCCF.
The petitioner said the lapses included diverting forest land for non-forest use without the Central government’s approval, for which the State government was asked to proceed against him under Sections 3A and 3B of the Van Sanrakshan Adhiniyam 1980.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in