Justice CS Karnan First Judge To Be Sentenced To Jail By Supreme Court

New Delhi: Justice CS Karnan was today sentenced to six months jail by the Supreme Court, which held him guilty of contempt and ordered the Kolkata police chief to arrest him. The court also banned the media from highlighting Justice Karnan's statements and "orders".

Before announcing the first-ever jail sentence for a judge, the court rejected an argument around "the blemish" cast by sentencing a judge.

"He has to be seen as a citizen of India and not as a judge. There is no colour or no judge , we can't distinguish the contempt , and not decide just on the fact that he is a sitting judge that we can't take action against him," the Chief Justice of India, JS Khehar, said.

Yesterday, the controversial Calcutta High Court judge had "sentenced" the Chief Justice and seven judges of the Supreme Court to five years in jail.

Last week, the judge had turned away a team of psychiatrists who had arrived along with the police for a medical examination ordered by the top court.

The 61-year-old judge was accused of contempt after he named 20 "corrupt judges" of the country earlier this year and sought an investigation alleging corruption in the judiciary. He also wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging an inquiry.

As the Supreme Court transferred him from the Madras High Court to Kolkata, Justice Karnan said he was being victimised because he is a Dalit.

The defiant judge refused to show up in the top court or submit to its orders. Instead, he fell into a routine of matching every Supreme Court order with one of his own, pronounced at his "home court".

At a hearing on March 31, the Chief Justice had raised questions about the judge's mental health.