19 hours Ago By Pankul Sharma
DEHRADUN: Two more judges of Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) - Harvinder Kaur Oberoi and B Anand - have recused themselves from hearing cases involving IFS officer Sanjiv Chaturvedi . This brings the total number of judicial recusals in his cases to 13, which legal eagles say is a record of sorts. So far, two SC judges, two Uttarakhand HC judges, the CAT chairman, a Shimla trial court judge, and seven CAT judges from Delhi and Allahabad benches have refrained from adjudicating Chaturvedi's matters.
In its latest order on Feb 19, CAT bench of Justices Oberoi and Anand directed the registry not to list his cases any further without providing specific reasoning. Chaturvedi's counsel, Sudershan Goel, said the case pertained to his appraisal report. In Feb 2024, an Uttarakhand HC judge had recused from hearing Chaturvedi's deputation case.
According to his counsel, in 2018, the HC had directed the officer's service matters be heard exclusively at Nainital circuit bench. This decision was upheld by SC. "In 2021, HC reiterated its stance, but Centre challenged it.
Subsequently, in March 2023, a SC division bench referred the matter to a larger bench," Goel added. The pattern of recusals goes back to Nov 2013, when the then-SC judge Ranjan Gogoi withdrew from hearing Chaturvedi's plea seeking a CBI probe into alleged corruption and harassment cases involving former Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda and other netas politicians and officers. In Aug 2016, then-SC judge U U Lalit recused from the case.
In 2007, Chaturvedi came into limelight after exposing scams in Haryana forest depart. He faced 12 transfers in five years. When he was suspended, he filed a plaint with President, following which Haryana govt revoke the order.
Named a 'whistleblower' in 2012, he has also received the Ramon Magsaysay Award . Stay informed with the latest India news, updates on public holidays , and bank holidays in March ..
