The Supreme Court has sharply criticised the Uttarakhand High Court for entertaining a plea and staying a sanction order despite the issue being under active consideration by the apex court in the ongoing proceedings concerning illegal constructions and tree felling in the Corbett Tiger Reserve.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India BR Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran observed that while High Courts are constitutional courts, they must refrain from judicial intervention in matters that are already before the Supreme Court.

“The High Court, no doubt, is a Constitutional Court and not inferior to this Court. However, in judicial matters, when this Court is seized of the matter, it is expected of the High Courts to keep their hands away,” the Bench remarked, expressing strong disapproval of the Uttarakhand High Court’s interference.

The apex court has been monitoring the CBI investigation into allegations of illegal construction and extensive tree felling inside the Corbett Tiger Reserve. Earlier, the Court had questioned the Uttarakhand Government for its delay in granting sanction to prosecute erring officials.

Following the Supreme Court’s oral observations on September 8, 2025, the State granted sanction on September 16, 2025, for the prosecution of Rahul, Chief Conservator of Forests.

However, Rahul subsequently approached the Uttarakhand High Court challenging the sanction order. The High Court, on October 14, 2025, admitted the plea and stayed the operation of the sanction order.

Taking serious exception, the Supreme Court observed that this step “virtually amounts to interference” with its ongoing proceedings.

“We are deeply perturbed by the approach of said Shri Rahul as well as the High Court of Uttarakhand,” the Bench said, noting that the officer had been attending Supreme Court hearings via video conferencing and was fully aware of the developments.

‘He Should Have Approached This Court Instead’

The Court emphasised that if the officer believed that any of its directions or observations prejudiced him, he ought to have intervened directly before the Supreme Court rather than filing a writ petition before the High Court.

Holding that the High Court should have refrained from entertaining the petition, the Bench directed that the writ petition be withdrawn from the Uttarakhand High Court and transferred to the Supreme Court.

Additionally, the Court stayed the High Court’s October 14 order and issued a notice to Rahul to appear before it on November 11, 2025, to show cause why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against him.

The proceedings form part of the long-standing TN Godavarman Thirumulpad v. Union of India case, in which the Supreme Court has been overseeing forest and environmental protection issues across the country.

In this context, the present matter relates to widespread illegal construction, encroachment, and tree felling inside the Corbett Tiger Reserve, for which the CBI has registered an FIR and continues to file status reports before the Supreme Court.

Case Title: In Re: T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad v. Union of India & Others