CAT quashes orders against controversial IFS officer

New Delhi, Aug 18 (PTI) Controversial IFS officer SanjivChaturvedi has got a major relief, with the CentralAdministrative Tribunal (CAT) quashing orders passed by HealthMinister J P Nadda and AIIMS President and its Director,indicting him for alleged indiscipline and lack of work ethicsduring his tenure as Deputy Secretary in the Institute. The tribunal’s bench, headed by P K Basu, quashed boththe orders noting that these were passed without issuing showcause notice to Chaturvedi which was "against the principlesof natural justice". The adverse observation made in both the orders were alsoasked to be kept in Chaturvedi’s Annual Performance AssessmentReport (APAR) for period 2015-16, against which he hadapproached the CAT. "The orders dated January 7 and March 30 passed by therespondents (AIIMS Director and its President) to theapplicant (Chaturvedi) with copies to other concernedMinistries, including Chief Secretary, Uttarakhand, is withoutissuing a show cause notice to him. This being against theprinciples of natural justice (sic). Both these orders arequashed," the tribunal said. In his January 7 order, the AIIMS Director had expressed"displeasure with his (Chaturvedi) insubordination,indiscipline and lack of work ethics during winter session ofParliament 2015". He had also ordered that a copy of thememorandum be kept in Chaturvedi’s personal file forconsideration in his APAR for period 2015-16. Nadda had upheld and reiterated this memorandum with adirection that "this may be sent to the Seretary, Ministry ofHealth and Family Welfare and Cadre Controlling Authority." Chaturvedi had then approached the CAT, claiming thatthese orders had sought to "taint" his service record andplaced him at a very disadvantageous position regarding futureperiodical review of the service record. He had claimed that these orders were passed with"personal mala fide" as he was "exposing corruption cases inAIIMS." The Ramon Magsaysay Award winner officer has been atloggerheads with the central government over issues ofpromotion, work allocation, cadre transfer, deputation andAPAR. PTI UK PKSARC