Dehradun, Dec. 16 -- Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), Principal Bench, New Delhi, has issued notices to the Centre, the state government and the incumbent head of forest force (HoFF), Ranjan Mishra on Monday, on a petition filed by Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer BP Gupta of the 1992 batch, challenging the manner in which his seniority was allegedly bypassed in the appointment to the top post. Abhijay Negi, counsel of the petitioner said, Gupta in his petition has contended that despite being the senior-most eligible officer, he was overlooked when Mishra, an IFS officer of the 1993 batch, was appointed as HoFF. The petition seeks the quashing of Mishra's appointment, alleging violation of established service rules and seniority norms governing appointments to the highest post in the state forest department, he said. The plea further seeks directions for a fresh and lawful consideration of the HoFF appointment strictly in accordance with seniority, merit and applicable rules. Gupta has also questioned the decision-making process of the Special Selection Committee, arguing that the reasons for superseding him were neither transparent nor properly recorded, he said. He said taking note of a high court order directing priority disposal of the matter, the CAT has granted only two days' time to the respondents to file their replies. "The tribunal has also directed the Uttarakhand government to place before it, in a sealed cover, the minutes of the meeting of the Special Selection Committee that recommended the HoFF appointment," he said. The CAT has issued notices to the Centre, the state government and the present HoFF and listed the matter for hearing on December 18, 2025, Gupta added....