Overview

• Justice Alok Verma of the Uttarakhand High Court recused this week from hearing Sanjiv Chaturvedi’s contempt petition against the Central Administrative Tribunal and its registry.
• His October 8 order stated only “List before another Bench,” giving no reason and mirroring earlier terse recusal notes.
• The tally of recusals in matters involving the IFS officer has reached 16, including two former Supreme Court judges and multiple High Court, lower court and CAT judges.
• The contempt plea challenges the CAT’s decision to proceed on September 12 and appoint an amicus curiae despite a High Court stay of the tribunal’s suo motu case until October 7, 2025.
• Justice Ravindra Maithani stepped aside on September 26, and earlier this year two CAT members and an ACJM in Nainital also recused, prompting objections from Chaturvedi’s counsel about denial of timely adjudication.