In what could be an unprecedented move, a seven-judge Bench of the Supreme Court will hear a suo-moto contempt petition against Justice CS Karnan tomorrow..As per the causelist, the seven senior most judges of the Supreme Court are sitting together to hear the contempt petition against the sitting Calcutta High Court judge..This very interesting move comes at a time when a case involving him and the Madras High Court is already pending before the Supreme Court..Recently, Justice Karnan had sought the permission of the Supreme Court to appear in-person in Supreme Court, to argue a case relating to his own transfer to Calcutta High Court from the Madras High Court. The Court had granted permission for the same..Further, a letter purportedly sent by Justice Karnan to the Prime Minister was also doing rounds on social media. In the letter, he had made serious allegations of corruption against sitting judges of the Supreme Court and various High Courts..It is not clear what the contempt petition listed for tomorrow is about. According to sources, this move by the Supreme Court might not be connected with the pending case..Justice Karnan, who is known for his maverick ways, had controversially opposed the decision of the Collegium to transfer him to Calcutta from Madras. This was in February last year, when he had allegedly shouted at the Registrar cum Personal Secretary of Madras High Court Chief Justice SK Kaul and also proceeded to suo moto take up (on the judicial side) his own transfer order. The High Court had brought the same to the notice of the Supreme Court in a case already pending before it..The Supreme Court had thereupon, directed the Chief Justice of the High Court to not assign any further judicial work to Justice Karnan on account of his transfer. The Court had also categorically held that operation of all orders passed by Justice Karnan after the issuance of his transfer proposal shall remain stayed. The Court had also given the judge liberty to enter appearance in the matter..Justice Karnan had then gone ahead and stayed his own transfer order apparently prompting strong rebuke from the Chief Justice of India..Subsequently, Karnan J. had written to the Chief Justice of India, Justice JS Khehar and Justice R Banumathi explaining his conduct leading to an erroneous order in violation of the stay order by the Supreme Court..In the letter written to the three judges, Justice Karnan had admitted that order was a result of his, “mental frustration resulting in the loss of his mental balance.”.His transfer order was subsequently cleared by the President and he had taken charge in Calcutta High Court..Subsequently, the Madras High Court had filed an application in the Supreme Court alleging that Justice Karnan has in his possession, twelve files of the Madras High Court which have to be returned. Further, the High Court had also submitted that the judge has not vacated his official government accommodation in Chennai though he was obligated to do so within 60 days from the date he ceased to be a judge of the Madras High Court..The Supreme Court had allowed Justice Karnan to file his response to these allegations.
In what could be an unprecedented move, a seven-judge Bench of the Supreme Court will hear a suo-moto contempt petition against Justice CS Karnan tomorrow..As per the causelist, the seven senior most judges of the Supreme Court are sitting together to hear the contempt petition against the sitting Calcutta High Court judge..This very interesting move comes at a time when a case involving him and the Madras High Court is already pending before the Supreme Court..Recently, Justice Karnan had sought the permission of the Supreme Court to appear in-person in Supreme Court, to argue a case relating to his own transfer to Calcutta High Court from the Madras High Court. The Court had granted permission for the same..Further, a letter purportedly sent by Justice Karnan to the Prime Minister was also doing rounds on social media. In the letter, he had made serious allegations of corruption against sitting judges of the Supreme Court and various High Courts..It is not clear what the contempt petition listed for tomorrow is about. According to sources, this move by the Supreme Court might not be connected with the pending case..Justice Karnan, who is known for his maverick ways, had controversially opposed the decision of the Collegium to transfer him to Calcutta from Madras. This was in February last year, when he had allegedly shouted at the Registrar cum Personal Secretary of Madras High Court Chief Justice SK Kaul and also proceeded to suo moto take up (on the judicial side) his own transfer order. The High Court had brought the same to the notice of the Supreme Court in a case already pending before it..The Supreme Court had thereupon, directed the Chief Justice of the High Court to not assign any further judicial work to Justice Karnan on account of his transfer. The Court had also categorically held that operation of all orders passed by Justice Karnan after the issuance of his transfer proposal shall remain stayed. The Court had also given the judge liberty to enter appearance in the matter..Justice Karnan had then gone ahead and stayed his own transfer order apparently prompting strong rebuke from the Chief Justice of India..Subsequently, Karnan J. had written to the Chief Justice of India, Justice JS Khehar and Justice R Banumathi explaining his conduct leading to an erroneous order in violation of the stay order by the Supreme Court..In the letter written to the three judges, Justice Karnan had admitted that order was a result of his, “mental frustration resulting in the loss of his mental balance.”.His transfer order was subsequently cleared by the President and he had taken charge in Calcutta High Court..Subsequently, the Madras High Court had filed an application in the Supreme Court alleging that Justice Karnan has in his possession, twelve files of the Madras High Court which have to be returned. Further, the High Court had also submitted that the judge has not vacated his official government accommodation in Chennai though he was obligated to do so within 60 days from the date he ceased to be a judge of the Madras High Court..The Supreme Court had allowed Justice Karnan to file his response to these allegations.
