Guwahati: The Assam government has reappointed controversial retired IFS officer MK Yadava as Special Chief Secretary (Forest) for another six months.
The Assam Cabinet, at its meeting on Thursday (May 14, 2026), approved Yadava’s re-engagement with effect from May 12, 2026, granting him full financial and administrative powers.
According to the official order, his remuneration will be fixed on the basis of the last pay and allowances drawn at the time of superannuation, minus pension.
The terms and conditions of his engagement will be governed by Personnel Department office memorandums issued on July 18, 2018, and February 16, 2024.
MK Yadava was first re-engaged as Special Chief Secretary (Forest) in March 2024, shortly after retiring as Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) and Head of Forest Force (HoFF) on February 29, 2024. His tenure was subsequently extended by the Assam Cabinet in February 2025.
His continuation in the post had triggered controversy after the previous Assam government ceased to exist following Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s resignation on May 6, 2026.
Sources said the Personnel Department had forwarded a panel of three officers for consideration, including Yadava and two IAS officers. Despite multiple allegations levelled against him, the Assam government decided to retain Yadava in the key post.
Critics have questioned the decision to re-engage Yadava yet again, alleging that several instances of irregularities and controversial decisions surfaced during his two-year tenure as Special Chief Secretary (Forest).
MK Yadava had earlier come under scrutiny over a series of forest land diversion decisions taken during his tenure.
The Union Environment Ministry had also directed legal action against him over alleged violations of forest conservation laws linked to the land diversion cases. However, no action was initiated by the Assam government.