The High Court asked, even after the decision of CAT came in favor of Bhartari, why was he not reinstated to the post of Head of the Department?
Nainital. A division bench of Uttarakhand Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Alok Kumar Verma, Sr.F.SHearing the petition of Rajeev Bhartari, notice has been issued to the Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary Forest and Vinod Singhal. The Bench has asked him that even after the decision of CAT, in favor of Bhartari, why has he not been reinstated to the post of Head of the Department? After hearing petitioner’s advocate Abhijay Negi, the matter has been fixed for hearing on April 3, giving ten days time to the respondents.
According to advocate Abhijay Negi, Rajeev Bhartari was removed from the post of Head of Forest Department on November 2021 by the then Minister Harak Singh Rawat after eleven months tenure. Bhartari had tried to take action against the guilty officers on illegal construction in Corbett, which was not liked by the then Forest Minister. After being removed, the government had said that Bhartri did not take proper action on the illegal activities in Corbett, but Bhartri said that he was removed from the post only because of taking proper action. After a detailed hearing of the case, CAT Allahabad in its order dated 24 February 2023 said that injustice has been done to Bhartari and his post should be reinstated immediately. The CAT also said that at the time of the transfer order, Bhartri’s entire career in the Forest Department was unblemished. As well as the arguments of his junior officer, Vinod Singhal, who was made the head of the forest department in his place, the CAT also rejected. Following this order, a charge-sheet was handed over to Bharti by the government. His reinstatement was not ordered
