India, Sept. 27 -- Uttarakhand high court justice Ravindra Maithani has recused himself from hearing a case involving senior Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Sanjiv Chaturvedi.

Justice Maithani stepped aside from hearing a contempt petition filed by Chaturvedi against members and registry officials of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) for alleged wilful disobedience of a stay order.

In his order dated September 26, justice Maithani stated, "List before another Bench of which I (Ravindra Maithani, J.) am not a Member." The order, however, did not specify any reason for the recusal.

Chaturvedi, a 2002-batch IFS officer, is currently posted as Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) in Uttarakhand. Justice Maithani becomes the third...