Calcutta High Court judge Justice CS Karnan has been charged in a contempt case in Supreme Court
Highlights
- Supreme Court issues bailable warrant against Justice CS Karnan
- Kolkata Police asked to produce Justice Karnan in court on March 31
- Judge charged in contempt case after alleging corruption in judiciary
In an unprecedented move, the Supreme Court today ordered a warrant against a high court judge, Justice CS Karnan for not appearing in a contempt case. Justice Karnan, who is in the Calcutta High Court, has to be served a warrant by the West Bengal police chief "personally" and produced on March 31, the top court directed.
A seven-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India JS Khehar will take up the contempt case against Justice Karnan for alleged misconduct. The 62-year-old judge wrote letters to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a few others alleging corruption among former and current judges in the country.
The Supreme Court will also take up a petition by the wife of a Madras High Court judge. She accuses Justice Karnan of harassing their family and making false allegations against her husband.
Justice Karnan was asked to appear in court in February, the first time in judicial history that a high court judge was issued a contempt notice. The top court stripped the judge of his judicial and administrative work and also transferred him from the Madras High Court to the high court in Bengal.
Instead of appearing in court, Justice Karnan wrote to the judges alleged that he was targeted because he is a Dalit. He also "stayed" or put on hold his own transfer order.
Justice Karnan was transferred to Calcutta High Court from the Madras High Court after the Chief Justice received complaints from judges. The judges, 21 of them, signed a petition against Justice Karnan.
The judge has over the years alleged caste bias against him and is known for his frequent conflicts with fellow judges.