Four senior officials in Environment Minister's office 'removed' :::: No such recent instance of a large number of a minister’s staff was removed in "one stroke" ::::: "... a complete collapse of due diligence and accountability"

The simultaneous removal of Union Minister Bhupender Yadav’s entire senior personal establishment is highly unusual.

While changes in ministerial staff are not uncommon following cabinet reshuffles or changes in portfolios, officials familiar with government procedures said they could not recall another recent instance where such a large number of  serving Union minister’s staff was removed in one stroke.  

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh claimed that the developments surrounding the ministry’s functioning raised serious questions about transparency, accountability and decision-making at the highest levels. 

He alleged that a series of actions since June 2025 showed a concerted effort by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Rajasthan government to alter the boundaries of the critical tiger habitat in Sariska Tiger Reserve. 

Yadav has himself survived and moreover he is known for enjoying the confidence of Home Minister Amit Shah.  

Additional Private Secretary Shailesh Kumar Singh, a Central Secretariat Service officer, has been prematurely repatriated to the Department of Personnel and Training under the provision of “extended cooling off” and directed to report to his parent cadre with immediate effect. He working with Yadav since November 2024.

The appointments of Additional Private Secretary Ayush Saran and Assistant Private Secretary Siddharth Yadav have been terminated with immediate effect, according to separate office orders. Both were  appointed in June 2024.

All these appointments were on coterminous basis or until further orders. All four orders were issued on 3 July  and cite approvals under the Department of Personnel and Training’s Office Memorandum. 

Each directs the officers to relinquish charge immediately.  

Among those removed is also Amar Singh, an Indian Revenue Service (IRS) - Income Tax officer of the 2010 batch serving as Private Secretary to the Minister. He has been repatriated to his parent cadre, the Department of Revenue, on “administrative grounds” and directed to report immediately.

The development assumes significance as it comes just days before the anticipated Cabinet reshuffle. However, neither the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the Department of Personnel and Training, nor the office of the Minister has issued any official explanation for the sweeping action.  

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh also says that -- "... on September 20 2025, the Forest Survey of India in a communication to the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change had recommended strongly against the redefinition of the Aravalli Hills that would open up the range to mining and real estate development. The Supreme Court-mandated Central Empowered Committee and the Supreme Court's Amicus Curiae had also supported the FSI. Yet the Ministry advocated the redefinition".   

He said said from June 2025 onwards, determined efforts have been made by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change and the Rajasthan government to redraw the critical tiger habitat boundary at Sariska (near Alwar).  

"This shows a complete collapse of due diligence and accountability at the very top. Undoubtedly there has been a gigantic scandal that has led to these dismissals," the Congress leader said.

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