In a key development, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has rejected the Haryana government’s proposal to appoint Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer Devinder Singh Kalyan as Chairman of the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), Haryana.
The SEIAA plays a crucial role in granting environmental clearances for projects across sectors such as mining, infrastructure, industry, and construction.
Mr. Kalyan, currently serving as Chief Commissioner, Income Tax (OSD), Chandigarh, has previously held senior positions in the Haryana government, including Principal Secretary, Excise and Taxation—a role typically reserved for IAS officers. He is scheduled to retire on May 31 and is also known as the brother of BJP MLA and Haryana Assembly Speaker Harvinder Kalyan.
However, the Centre declined his nomination, citing non-fulfilment of eligibility criteria specified under the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006. In an official letter dated May 14, Dr. JD Marcus Knight, Scientist-E at MoEFCC, noted that Mr. Kalyan “does not meet the eligibility requirements” listed in Appendix VI of the EIA Notification.
The MoEFCC has now asked the Haryana government to submit a revised proposal for the reconstitution of both SEIAA and the State Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC), including a suitable replacement for the chairman’s post.
Traditionally, the chairmanship of SEIAA Haryana has been held by retired IAS officers. The position has remained vacant for several months, with several former bureaucrats reportedly being considered.
While official statements on the rejection are yet to be made, sources indicate that strict adherence to the eligibility norms under the EIA guidelines was the key reason behind the decision.
