17th Judge Recuses From Hearing Uttarakhand IFS Officer Sanjiv Chaturvedi's Case
A 17th judge has recused from hearing a long-running case involving Uttarakhand-cadre IFS officer Sanjiv Chaturvedi, according to a September 26 report.
Current Summary
According to a September 26 report by indiagazette.com, a further New Indian Express report, a September 27 Indian Express report, and a September 27 Gujarat Samachar report, a 17th judge has recused from hearing cases involving Sanjiv Chaturvedi, an Indian Forest Service officer of the Uttarakhand cadre known for whistleblowing on alleged corruption, including during a central deputation at AIIMS Delhi. The latest recusal came from Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) Delhi Bench member Rajveer Singh Verma on September 21, relating to Chaturvedi's challenge to a November 2021 Uttarakhand government order on the appraisal-report channel for IFS officers, in an order recorded by fellow CAT member Rajinder Kashyap. The order noted a registry objection that Chaturvedi's representation was premature, and recorded that he was repeatedly directed to confine his submissions to matters connected with the case before the bench recused itself; no reason was given for the recusal itself. The petition also refers to a Supreme Court judgment delivered in May 2025. A compiled tally puts the total recusals across Chaturvedi's various cases at 17, comprising 2 Supreme Court judges, 4 Uttarakhand High Court judges, 9 CAT members (including a former chairman), and 2 district court judges, though the tally could not be independently verified. Subsequent reporting by Deccan Chronicle traces the history further: then-Supreme Court judge Ranjan Gogoi recused in November 2013 from a Chaturvedi petition seeking a CBI investigation into alleged corruption and harassment, and then-Justice U U Lalit recused in August 2016 from a related matter. Uttarakhand High Court judges Alok Verma and Ravindra Maithani recused in September-October 2025 from a contempt petition Chaturvedi filed against CAT members and the tribunal's registry, and Justice Manoj Tiwari recused in February 2024 from a case concerning documents sought from the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet. The report does not disclose which court is currently hearing the underlying petition beyond CAT Delhi, or the reasons cited for most of the earlier recusals.
What We Know
- A 17th judge has recused from hearing a case involving Uttarakhand-cadre IFS officer Sanjiv Chaturvedi, per a September 26 report.
- The September 21 recusal was by CAT Delhi Bench member Rajveer Singh Verma, in a case challenging a November 2021 state government order on the IFS appraisal-report channel.
- A compiled tally cites 17 total recusals: 2 Supreme Court judges, 4 Uttarakhand High Court judges, 9 CAT members (including a former chairman), and 2 district court judges.
- The report cautions this tally could not be independently verified.
- Then-Supreme Court judge Ranjan Gogoi recused in November 2013 from a Chaturvedi petition seeking a CBI probe into alleged corruption and harassment.
- Then-Justice U U Lalit recused in August 2016 from a related matter.
- Uttarakhand High Court judges Alok Verma and Ravindra Maithani recused in September-October 2025 from a contempt petition filed by Chaturvedi against CAT members and its registry.
- Uttarakhand High Court judge Manoj Tiwari recused in February 2024 from a case concerning documents sought from the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, part of the recusal history in Chaturvedi's cases.
- The September 21 CAT recusal order was recorded by fellow CAT Delhi Bench member Rajinder Kashyap; the underlying petition also refers to a May 2025 Supreme Court judgment.
- The CAT order noted a registry objection that Chaturvedi's representation was premature, and recorded that he was repeatedly directed to confine his submissions to the matter before the bench.
What Is Still Unclear
- Which court and specific case this pertains to.
- The reason cited for the recusal.
- The current status and history of the underlying legal matter.
What Changed
- 29 Sept, 04:13 pmAdditional detail from the CAT order shows the tribunal's registry had raised an objection that Chaturvedi's representation was premature, and that he was repeatedly directed by the bench to confine his submissions to the matter at hand before member Rajveer Singh Verma recused himself.
- 29 Sept, 03:22 pmAdded detail that Uttarakhand High Court judge Manoj Tiwari recused in February 2024 from a case concerning documents sought from the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, part of the broader recusal history in Chaturvedi's cases. The CAT order recording member Rajveer Singh Verma's September 21 recusal was itself recorded by fellow CAT Delhi Bench member Rajinder Kashyap.
- 29 Sept, 02:43 pmNew reporting traces the recusal history further back: then-Supreme Court judge Ranjan Gogoi recused in November 2013 from a plea by Chaturvedi seeking a CBI probe into alleged corruption and harassment, and then-Justice U U Lalit recused in August 2016 from a related matter. Uttarakhand High Court judges Alok Verma and Ravindra Maithani recused in September-October 2025 from a contempt petition Chaturvedi filed against CAT members and the tribunal's registry.
- 26 Sept, 09:41 amA CAT Delhi Bench member, Rajveer Singh Verma, recused himself on September 21 from hearing Chaturvedi's challenge to a November 2021 Uttarakhand government order on the IFS appraisal-report channel, without stating a reason. A compiled tally now puts the total recusals at 17, including 2 Supreme Court judges, 4 Uttarakhand High Court judges, 9 CAT members (including a former chairman), and 2 district court judges — though the report notes this tally could not be independently verified.
- 26 Sept, 08:51 amSignal detected: 17th Judge Recuses From Hearing Uttarakhand IFS Officer Sanjiv Chaturvedi's Case
Background
Sanjiv Chaturvedi is an Indian Forest Service officer of the Uttarakhand cadre previously known for exposing alleged irregularities during a central deputation at AIIMS Delhi.