Team Herald
PANJIM: The Supreme Court on Wednesday reinstated Dr Veena Kumar as the officiating Director of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services (AH&VS), with immediate effect.
A Bench comprising Justices Sanjay Kumar and KV Viswanathan stated, “Dr Veena Kumar shall continue as the in-charge Director of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, Panjim, until further orders.”
Dr Kumar, the senior-most officer in the department, was initially appointed as the officiating director. However, she was later replaced by Deputy Director Dr Nitin Naik, following a recommendation by Animal Husbandry Minister Nilkanth Halarnkar. Challenging the appointment of Dr Naik, Dr Kumar approached the High Court of Bombay at Goa, which declined to intervene. She then filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) before the Supreme Court, represented by Adv Salvador Santosh Rebello.
During the hearing, State counsel Adv Abhay Anturkar read from the affidavit filed before the High Court and sought time to submit a counter affidavit. However, the Bench remarked that Dr Kumar’s initial appointment had been made by the government and that her subsequent removal — allegedly influenced by “someone pulling strings” —warranted explanation.
The Court observed that the State failed to provide a valid justification for replacing Dr Kumar with Dr Naik, despite her appointment on June 4, 2024. It suspended the June 20, 2024 order issued by the Under Secretary (Personnel-II), Department of Personnel, which had appointed Dr Naik, and directed Dr Kumar’s immediate reinstatement.
The matter has been posted for further hearing on July 22, with the Court granting the State time to file its response.