The Delhi High Court has sought a response from AIIMS on a plea filed by its former Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO), Sanjiv Chaturvedi, alleging perjury in an ongoing legal dispute.

A bench comprising Justices C Hari Shankar and Ajay Digpaul issued notice to AIIMS on Chaturvedi’s petition, filed under Section 340 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).

“Issue notice... Reply, if any, be filed within four weeks with an advance copy to the learned counsel for the petitioner, who may file a rejoinder within four weeks thereafter,” the bench stated in its order dated February 24.

Chaturvedi contends that AIIMS made “false statements” in a counter affidavit submitted on August 17, 2016, regarding the channel for writing his annual performance appraisal report for the financial year 2014-15.

Having served as the CVO of AIIMS from 2012 to 2014, Chaturvedi initiated action against corruption in the institution. However, he was relieved from his post in August 2014, before the completion of his term in 2016.

In his plea, he urged the court to initiate criminal proceedings against AIIMS under Section 340 of CrPC read with Section 193 of the IPC for allegedly making false statements under oath. He also sought the imposition of an "exemplary fine" on the institution for willfully misleading the court.

Chaturvedi, an Indian Forest Services officer, was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2015 for his efforts in public service.

The matter is scheduled for its next hearing in July.