Uttarakhand: Cabinet Minister’s Son’s Wedding Held at Temple; Two Forest Guards Suspended, Ranger and Forest Inspector Also Removed from Their Posts
A new twist has emerged in the controversy surrounding the wedding of the son of State Cabinet Minister Khajan Das, which was solemnized at the Maa Sureshwari Devi Temple located within the Haridwar Range of the Rajaji Tiger Reserve. Disciplinary action has been taken against two officials and two employees of the Forest Department; consequently, two forest guards have been suspended, while a Ranger and a Forest Sub-Inspector have been removed from their posts.
Action Taken Against Two Officials and Two Employees
Two forest guards stationed at the Sureshwari Devi Temple gate have been suspended for negligence in handling the matter. Specifically, Forest Guards Amit Saini and Abhishek Kandari—who were posted at the Ranipur Gate—have been suspended with immediate effect due to their negligence. This action was initiated by the current Director of the Rajaji Tiger Reserve, Rajiv Dhiman, acting upon the recommendations of the inquiry officer, Ajay Lingwal.
Furthermore, action has also been taken against two officials. Mahesh Semwal, the Ranger of the Haridwar Range, and Amrita, the Forest Sub-Inspector posted in the Sureshwari Devi section, have been removed from their positions. Mahesh Semwal held concurrent charge of two ranges: Motichur and Haridwar. Following the inquiry, the additional charge of the Haridwar Range has been divested from him. Abha Raturi has been assigned the charge of the Haridwar Range in his stead.
Forest Director Had Granted Permission for the Event
It is pertinent to note that following this disciplinary action, questions have begun to be raised regarding the Forest Department itself. On the day the Minister’s son’s wedding was solemnized—albeit in a simple manner—at the temple, Cabinet Minister Khajan Das himself issued a statement to the media asserting that the Forest Director had given his consent for the wedding.
The Minister stated that had he been apprised of the applicable rules beforehand, he would have organized the event at Shantikunj or an alternative venue. Conversely, it is understood that no lower-ranking official or employee possesses the authority to grant such permission. Nevertheless, the inquiry into the matter has resulted in disciplinary action being taken against two officials and two employees. It should be noted that the investigation into the incident remains ongoing.
The Background of the Case
On April 26, the wedding of the son of Uttarakhand Cabinet Minister Khajan Das was scheduled to take place at the Sureshwari Devi Temple, situated within the Haridwar Range of the Rajaji Tiger Reserve. The day before the wedding, tents, coolers, sofas, chairs, and other decorative items were transported to the temple via trucks. The temple premises were decorated, and a controversy erupted after photos and videos of the setup surfaced.
This dispute arose regarding the permission granted for the wedding, as the venue designated for the ceremony falls within a reserved forest area. Due to various guidelines issued by the NTCA, the courts, and the NGT, no noisy events or celebrations are permitted at that location. However, as the matter gained momentum, all the equipment and decorations were removed with immediate effect.
