The Jharkhand government has approached the Jharkhand High Court seeking modification of its order that barred the Forest Department from withdrawing funds, contending that the restriction has disrupted critical operations, including the feeding and medical care of animals at the Birsa Munda Zoological Park.
The state has filed an intervention petition requesting the court to recall its June 10, 2026 directive issued in the case filed by a forest department official, Ranger, Anand Kumar.
The June 10 order of the HC had prohibited the Forest Department and its associated authorities from withdrawing money from both plan and non-plan heads until the petitioner's alleged dues were settled.
According to the government, the embargo on fund withdrawals has adversely affected a range of routine and essential activities carried out by the department. It submitted that the zoo has been facing difficulties in ensuring food, healthcare and sanitation for its animals, including lions and other wild species housed in zoos, parks and wildlife sanctuaries.
In its petition, the government maintained that Anand Kumar has no pending financial claims. It informed the court that a payment of Rs 6.70 lakh was released to him in January 2022, clearing all dues.
The state further argued that the ranger had faced departmental disciplinary proceedings, resulting in a censure and the withholding of three annual increments through a notification issued on January 7, 2005.
However, during a subsequent review, it was found that the Finance Department had not been informed of the punishment while processing his salary fixation.
As a result, the increments were never withheld and he continued to receive his full salary, meaning he did not suffer any monetary loss. The government has alleged that these facts were not disclosed before the High Court.
The petition also highlighted that funds under both plan and non-plan heads are used for several indispensable functions, including payment of salaries to forest guards and other field staff, wages of plantation workers, maintenance of plantations, and conservation-related activities.
It stressed that the same funds are also utilised for meeting the day-to-day needs of wildlife in parks, zoos and sanctuaries, such as food, veterinary treatment and upkeep.
Arguing that the court's interim order has hampered the functioning of the Forest Department and affected wildlife management, the government has requested the High Court to lift the restriction on fund withdrawals, reiterating that no outstanding payment is due to the petitioner.
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