A key decision involving the use of forest personnel during the upcoming Assam Assembly elections has been put on hold after intervention by the National Green Tribunal (NGT). The tribunal stayed the Assam government’s order to deploy nearly 1,600 members of the Assam Forest Protection Force for election duties scheduled on April 9.
The ruling came from the eastern zonal bench of the tribunal in Kolkata, led by judicial member Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert member Ishwar Singh. Alongside the stay, the bench also issued a notice to the Centre while hearing a petition challenging the March 19 government order.
The contested directive had asked forest personnel to assist the Assam Police during the elections. The plea, filed by advocate Gaurav Bansal, argued that such diversion of manpower compromises their core responsibility of protecting forests and biodiversity.
It further stated that the move violates provisions of the Biological Diversity Act, warning that reducing forest protection staff could leave sensitive ecosystems, including tiger reserves and protected areas, vulnerable to poaching, illegal wildlife trade, and timber felling.
Observing that the issue raises “substantial questions” concerning environmental protection, the tribunal issued notices to the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the Assam government, the state biodiversity board, and the National Biodiversity Authority.
The matter will be taken up again on April 6, when all concerned authorities are expected to present their responses.
