The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), Principal Bench [Circuit Nainital], has issued contempt notices to top government officials, including Cabinet Secretary T.V. Somanathan, Health Secretary Apurva Chandra, and Central Vigilance Commission Secretary P. Daniel. The action pertains to a long-standing case involving the alleged retaliatory downgrade of Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Sanjiv Chaturvedi’s appraisal report for the financial year 2015–16.
Background: Allegations of Retaliation
Chaturvedi, who had served as Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO) and exposed multiple high-profile corruption cases, claims that his appraisal was downgraded in retaliation for his actions. He challenged the evaluation before CAT in July 2017.
In February 2023, CAT directed the authorities to furnish documents related to the inquiries conducted by Chaturvedi during his tenure as CVO—records he alleged were deliberately withheld.
Contempt Notices for Non-Compliance
Despite CAT’s order, the concerned officials allegedly failed to comply, prompting the tribunal—comprising Judicial Member Ajay Pratap Singh and Administrative Member Sanjeeva Kumar—to issue contempt notices. The notices require the officials to explain why contempt proceedings should not be initiated for non-compliance with the tribunal’s directives.
Legal Timeline and High Court Stay
In March 2023, CAT reiterated its directive to share the required documents. However, AIIMS Delhi challenged this in the Uttarakhand High Court, which granted a stay on the CAT orders in May 2023.
A year later, in May 2024, the High Court clarified that the stay did not apply to the Cabinet Secretary, Union Health Secretary, or the CVC Secretary, thereby affirming their obligation to comply with CAT’s order.
What’s Next
The case is scheduled for its next hearing on July 9, 2025, when the tribunal expects detailed responses from the named officials. Failure to justify the delay could lead to formal contempt proceedings.
