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Justice Rajveer Singh Verma of the Delhi Bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has recused himself from hearing a petition filed by Uttarakhand cadre IFS officer Sanjiv Chaturvedi challenging a November 2021 order of the Uttarakhand government related to the Appraisal Report Channel of IFS officers.
The recusal order, passed on September 21, stated, "After hearing the matter for some time, Honble Mr Rajveer Singh Verma, Member (J), recuses himself from hearing this matter." The order did not mention any specific reason for the recusal. With this, the number of judges who have recused themselves from hearing cases related to Chaturvedi has risen to 17, according to details shared by him. So far, two Supreme Court judges, four judges of the Nainital High Court, nine judges of CAT, including its Chairman, and two judges from the district judiciary have recused themselves from matters involving Chaturvedi. Earlier in September-October 2025, Nainital High Court judges Justice Alok Verma and Justice Ravindra Maithani had recused themselves from hearing a contempt case filed by Chaturvedi against CAT members and registry over alleged non-compliance with a stay order passed by the High Court. In February 2024, Justice Manoj Tiwari of the Nainital High Court had recused himself from hearing a case related to summoning documents from the Appointment Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) regarding Chaturvedi's central deputation. In May 2023, Justice Rakesh Thapliyal of the Nainital High Court had also recused himself from hearing a matter related to summoning documents concerning Chaturvedi's anti-corruption investigations during his tenure as Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO) of AIIMS, New Delhi. Earlier, in February 2025, a CAT Division Bench comprising Justice Harvinder Oberai and B Anand had recused themselves from hearing a case related to the downgrading of Chaturvedi's appraisal report, without citing any reason. In April 2025, Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) Neha Kushwaha recused herself from hearing a defamation case filed by Chaturvedi against CAT judge Manish Garg, citing previous family relations with another CAT judge. Chaturvedi has also seen previous recusals in matters before the Supreme Court. In November 2013, then Supreme Court judge Justice Ranjan Gogoi recused himself from hearing a petition filed by Chaturvedi seeking a CBI probe into alleged corruption cases in Haryana. In August 2016, then Supreme Court judge Justice U. U. Lalit also recused himself from the matter. Other instances include the recusal of CAT Chairman Justice L Narasimhan Reddy in March 2019, CAT judge Justice R N Singh in February 2021, and CAT judges Justice Manish Garg and Chchabilendra Roul in November 2023 from matters related to Chaturvedi. In January 2025, CAT judge Justice Rajeev Joshi also recused himself from hearing Chaturvedi's central deputation case related to Lokpal. (ANI)
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