Union cabinet secy challenges 7-year-old CAT orders, contempt notices in IFS officer Sanjeev Chaturvedi case
The notices, issued on May 21, 2025, pertained to non-compliance by cabinet secretary TV Somanathan with earlier CAT directions asking him, along with health secretary and central vigilance commission secretary, to submit documents related to the closure of some high-profile corruption cases, which were being investigated by Chaturvedi as chief vigilance officer in AIIMS-Delhi. The petition also sought to nullify CAT's Feb 23, 2023 orders, non-compliance of which gave rise to the contempt petition.
The chief justice's bench listed the next hearing for Aug 28.
The matter relates to the downgrading of the annual performance appraisal report (APAR) of Chaturvedi for 2015–16, during his central deputation at AIIMS-Delhi from June 2012 to June 2016. CAT had, on Apr 16, 2018, dismissed an application filed by the then cabinet secretary, observing, "Since the officer's central deputation was approved by the cabinet secretary, and that most of his prayers are also directed against cabinet secretary, he is a "necessary party to the proceedings.
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A parallel petition was also filed by the secretary, department of personnel and training (DoPT), on the same day before the high court. It seeks the removal of the cabinet secretary from the list of respondents in the original CAT matter, praying that the name of DoPT secretary be added instead in the pending tribunal case.
Chaturvedi had approached the Nainital circuit bench of CAT in July 2017 after his APAR was downgraded, and in Sept 2017, the tribunal stayed the downgrading order.
In 2019, he had filed an application seeking documents regarding closure of several major corruption cases, an investigation he had initiated during his tenure as chief vigilance officer (CVO) at AIIMS, from June 2012 to Aug 2014, alleging that the downgrade was in retaliation for his anti-corruption investigations.
During that period, Chaturvedi had handled nearly 200 corruption cases involving senior bureaucrats and doctors, including disciplinary action in 78 matters and charges in 87, with over 20 of those cases referred to CBI, prompting CAT to issue orders in February and March 2023 asking the cabinet secretary, health secretary, CVC and AIIMS Delhi to furnish relevant documents.
When the officials failed to comply, Chaturvedi filed a contempt petition in Dec 2024, leading CAT in May 2025 to issue contempt notices to Somanathan, then health secretary Apurva Chandra and then CVC secretary P Daniel.
Meanwhile, Chaturvedi's legal battle has seen unusual judicial churn. As of June 2025, a total of 14 judges have recused themselves from hearing matters related to him, the latest being ACJM Neha Kushwaha, who stepped away from a criminal defamation case Chaturvedi filed against CAT judge Manish Garg, citing personal proximity to another tribunal judge. The contempt notices followed a high court clarification in May 2024 that a previous stay did not apply to these top officials, thereby making them liable to comply with CAT's directives.
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