Dehradun, UK: Justice Alok Verma of the Uttarakhand High Court has recused himself from hearing a contempt petition filed by Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Sanjiv Chaturvedi (2002 batch), making him the 16th judge to step aside from cases related to the high-profile whistleblower.
Justice Verma’s brief order, issued on October 8, stated only: “List before another Bench,” without offering any explanation for the recusal – a pattern seen across most of the previous recusals.
Pattern of Judicial Withdrawal Sets Alarming Precedent
This marks a historic and troubling pattern in India’s judicial landscape. Never before has a single litigant – particularly a whistleblower – faced 16 recusals across the Supreme Court, High Courts, lower courts, and Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT).
To date, the recusals include –
- 2 Supreme Court judges
- 4 High Court judges
- 2 lower court judges
- 8 CAT judges, including a former chairman
Most judges have not cited any reasons, leading to speculation about external pressure, conflict of interest, or discomfort in handling sensitive whistleblower cases involving top bureaucrats and politicians.
Latest Recusal Follows a String of Withdrawals in 2025 Alone
In 2025 alone, six judicial officers have stepped aside from hearing Chaturvedi’s cases –
- February: CAT Judges Harvinder Oberai and B Anand
- April: ACJM Neha Kushwaha, citing familial ties to a former CAT judge
- September 26: Justice Ravindra Maithani, Senior Judge of Uttarakhand High Court
- October 8: Justice Alok Verma, Uttarakhand High Court
Justice Verma had earlier been part of a Division Bench that regularly heard Chaturvedi’s matters until August 29. The latest case involved a contempt petition against CAT members and its registry.
Long History of Judicial Hesitance in Chaturvedi’s Legal Battles
Chaturvedi, known for exposing multiple high-level corruption cases, has faced judicial roadblocks since 2013 –
- 2013: Justice Ranjan Gogoi of the Supreme Court recused from a petition seeking a CBI probe against then Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda and others.
- 2018: Shimla court judge recused in defamation case linked to corruption reports from AIIMS.
- 2019: CAT Chairman Justice L. Narasimhan Reddy stepped down, citing “unfortunate developments.”
- 2023: CAT Judges Manish Garg and Chchabilendra Roul recused in a case on ACC documents related to empanelment.
- January 2025: CAT Judge Rajeev Joshi recused in central deputation case before Lokpal.
The Uttarakhand High Court had earlier in 2018 ordered that a case involving his Appraisal Report be heard only at the Nainital Circuit Bench, imposing costs on the Centre for trying to shift it to Delhi. That order was upheld by the Supreme Court.
Chilling Effect on Whistleblowers’ Access to Justice
Legal experts and whistleblower protection advocates warn that such widespread judicial withdrawal has deep implications for rule of law and whistleblower safety in India. The lack of judicial willingness to engage with cases involving high-level accountability erodes faith in institutional independence.
Speaking off the record, a retired High Court judge said: “Sixteen recusals in one individual’s case is not just rare – it’s a red flag. It reflects systemic discomfort with taking on cases that involve powerful interests.”
IFS Chaturvedi’s legal battles stem from his tenure as Chief Vigilance Officer at AIIMS, where he uncovered major irregularities. His continued litigation seeks accountability from both administrative and judicial authorities.
His wife and legal supporters have often described these judicial delays and recusals as part of a deliberate strategy to deny justice.
