The Supreme Court on Monday put a stay on a Uttarakhand High Court's order directing the state government to reinstate senior Indian Forest Service officer Rajiv Bhartari as the head of forest force (HoFF). A bench of Justices B R Gavai and Vikram Nath said there shall be stay of operation of the impugned order of the high court dated April 3, 2023. The top court was hearing a plea by former HoFF Vinod Kumar seeking a stay on the high court's order. The apex court bench also issued notices to the respondents giving them four weeks to reply. Bhartari, who is due to retire this month, had resumed charge as the HoFF on April 4, just a day after the high court's order set the state government a narrow deadline of less than 24 hours for his reinstatement.