Guwahati: The Assam government has re-engaged retired Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer M.K. Yadava as Special Chief Secretary of the Mines and Minerals Department for two years, after informing the Gauhati High Court on Thursday that he would not be given any further role in the Forest Department.
According to a notification issued by the Department of Personnel on November 12, Governor of Assam has approved Yadava’s re-engagement for two years with effect from November 13, 2026, or until further orders, whichever is earlier. The appointment carries full administrative and financial powers.
The notification stated that the decision followed approval by the state Cabinet at its meeting on November 10.
The government has also relieved Additional Chief Secretary Ajay Tewari, who held charge of the Mines and Minerals Department alongside the Home and Political Department and other responsibilities, from the Mines and Minerals portfolio.
The re-engagement came on the same day the Assam government informed the Gauhati High Court that Yadava’s third contractual extension as Special Chief Secretary (Forest) had ended on November 11 and that the Cabinet had decided against any further engagement for him in the Forest Department.
During the hearing, Additional Advocate General P.N. Goswami told a division bench of Justice Michael Zothankhuma and Justice Sanjeev Kumar Sharma that Yadava would instead be re-engaged in the Mines and Minerals Department.
Following the government’s submission, the court closed Public Interest Litigation (PIL 57/2026), filed by environmental activist Rohit Choudhury, challenging Yadava’s continued post-retirement engagement.
“On considering all the above, we do not find any reason to continue with the present PIL,” the division bench observed while closing the case.
The development came a day after the High Court sought clarification from the state government on whether it had examined two communications issued by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) on May 29, 2025, before granting Yadava his third extension.
The court had also sought details of any action taken against Yadava in response to the Centre’s communications and whether the matter had been considered by the competent authority before his third extension was approved on May 14, 2026.
Choudhury’s PIL questioned the legality of Yadava’s continued contractual engagement after his retirement as Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) and Head of Forest Force in February 2024.
Yadava was initially appointed Special Chief Secretary (Forest) on a contractual basis for one year from February 29, 2024. His engagement was subsequently extended on February 21, 2025, and May 14, 2026.
The controversy over his re-engagement was linked to forest land diversion permissions granted during his tenure as PCCF and Head of Forest Force. These included the diversion of 28 hectares in Geleky Reserved Forest in Sivasagar district and 11.5 hectares in Innerline Reserved Forest at Damchera in Hailakandi district.
The MoEF&CC had issued communications concerning alleged violations of provisions of the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980, and the corresponding 2023 Rules.
The Assam government had earlier defended Yadava’s re-engagement before the High Court, maintaining that it was legally valid and administratively justified.