Supreme Court raps Uttarakhand govt for slow action against errant officers over illegal constructions in Corbett Park

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday rapped the Uttarakhand government for moving at a snail's pace on initiating action against its senior officers, accused of illegal constructions in Corbett Tiger Reserve.

A bench of Justices B R Gavai and Augustine George Masih directed the state government to conclude all departmental proceedings against the officers within three months.

The court considered an affidavit by the state government, detailing the departmental proceedings initiated against the officers.

Referring to a chart brought on record, the bench said that the state government was quick to take action against the junior level officers, however, no such haste was shown for the senior officers.

The court noted the departmental proceedings were completed against 16 of the 17 officers who were in the rank of ranger and deputy ranger, but the proceedings were moving at a snail's pace against senior officers.

The court was also dealing with the issue of eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) notification for the Rajaji National Park and Jim Corbett National Park of the state. The National Environment Policy of 2006 defined an ESZ as areas or zones with identified environmental resources having incomparable values that require special attention for their conservation because of their landscape, wildlife, biodiversity, historical and natural values.

The counsel for the state government contended that the revised proposal was forwarded to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on March 11.

The bench asked the ministry to consider the revised proposal and take appropriate steps for publication of the final notification after following the due procedure prescribed under the law.

Additional solicitor general Aishwarya Bhati, representing the ministry, assured the court that the process would be completed at the earliest.

The court fixed the matter for consideration after 12 weeks.