Harsh Chouhan resigns as NCST chairman 8 months before end of term; Congress alleges 'forced' exit

Harsh Chouhan has resigned as the chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) eight months ahead of the end of his tenure, with Congress on Tuesday claiming that he has paid the price for "boldly" opposing the dilution of forests and tribal rights by the Narendra Modi government.

Sources said Chouhan, who was appointed as NCST head in February 2021, resigned on June 26 and his resignation was accepted the next day. They claimed Chouhan, a 73-year-old with an MTech from IIT-Delhi in Systems and Management, was not keeping well and has not been able to keep pace with the assignment he has in hand.

Congress General Secretary (Communications) Jairam Ramesh tweeted, "...He has been taking -- like many activists and I have done -- very strong objections to the way forest laws have been diluted in the last two years that hurt the interests of adivasis. He has confronted the Environment and Forests Ministry boldly."

"Now he has paid the price for his commitment and courage. He has been forced to resign 8 months before his term ends. So much for the Modi government’s concerns for the welfare of tribal communities and the independence of Constitutional authorities," Ramesh, a former Environment and Forest Minister, added.

Chouhan had a run-in with the Ministry of Environment and Forests over the new Forest Conservation Rules, 2022 allegedly encroaching on tribal rights.

In September last year, Chouhan had written to the Environment Ministry seeking the suspension of the Forest Conservation Rules, 2017 while urging it to "reinstate, strengthen, and strictly monitor" compliance with certain provisions, including obtaining consent from gram sabhas before the diversion of forest land for any project. However, the Ministry did not accept his view.

The NCST has now been left with just one member, as the post of Vice Chairperson has remained vacant since July 2019 after Anasuya Uikey was appointed Governor.