14th judge steps aside from Sanjiv Chaturvedi's cases
Dehradun: The additional chief judicial magistrate (ACJM) of Nainital, Justice Neha Kushwaha, has recused herself from hearing a criminal defamation case filed by Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Sanjiv Chaturvedi against Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) judge Manish Garg.
This brings the number of judges who have withdrawn from matters involving Chaturvedi to 14.
Chaturvedi had filed the case in Nov 2023, alleging Judge Garg used foul language against him during open court proceedings on Oct 16, 2023. The ACJM cited 'family relations' with CAT judge D S Mahra, who regularly visits her official residence, as grounds for recusal. "In such a situation, it would not be fair for me to hear this case," she said.
Chaturvedi later filed a criminal contempt petition against Mahra in Nov 2024, after a bench led by him issued a contempt notice to Chaturvedi in connection with the same defamation matter in Oct 2024.
In Feb 2025, CAT judges Havinder Kaur Oberoi and B Anand withdrew from hearing Chaturvedi's petitions. Their bench directed the registry not to list his cases in future, without citing any reason. The matter concerned the officer's appraisal report.
Earlier, in Feb 2024, a Uttarakhand high court judge recused from Chaturvedi's deputation-related matter. In 2018, the high court had directed that his service issues be heard only at the CAT's Nainital circuit bench and imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on the central govt, which was upheld by Supreme Court. The high court reiterated the direction in 2021, which the central govt challenged. In March 2023, the SC referred the matter to a larger bench.
In Nov 2013, SC judge Justice Ranjan Gogoi stepped aside from hearing Chaturvedi's plea seeking a CBI probe into alleged corruption by then Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda and others. Later, in Aug 2016, SC judge UU Lalit also withdrew from the same matter.
A Shimla court judge stepped aside in April 2018 from hearing a defamation case filed by then Himachal Pradesh chief secretary Vineet Chowdhary against Chaturvedi.
In March 2019, CAT chairman Justice L Narasimhan Reddy recused himself from transfer petition cases involving Chaturvedi, citing "unfortunate developments".
CAT Delhi judge Justice RN Singh withdrew from another service matter involving Chaturvedi in Feb 2021. A high court judge recused in May 2023 without stating any reason. In Nov 2023, CAT judges Manish Garg and Chhabilendra Roul stepped aside. In Jan this year, CAT judge Justice Rajeev Joshi also withdrew from a case related to Chaturvedi's service issues.
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