Karnan J. claims “harassment and belittlement” by Madras HC’s Chief Justice Kaul

Justice CS Karnan, sitting judge of the Madras High Court, is in news again. And this time he has expressed his desire to proceed on long leave alleging “harassment and belittlement” meted out to him by the Chief Justice of the court..In a letter written to Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Justice Karnan has expressed angst at what he has termed as “continuous harassment by your lordship”. He has alleged that Justice Kaul chose to allot insignificant portfolios to him and he was overlooked for judges who are junior to him..“Since your lordship is solely in charge of the Madras High Court and invested with administrative power, Your Lordship has elected to allot me insignificant/ dummy portfolios while those juniors to me, have been allotted significant assignments, which is tantamount to belittling my capabilities as a judge of many years in this august Court. Being a Dalit, do you expect me to take such treatment lying down? Or do you expect me to fight for my rights till the bitter end?”.Citing the “harassment and belittlement” meted out to him, Justice Karnan has expressed his desire to proceed on a long leave to ensure that the decorum of the court is not disturbed..“It is with a heavy heart, I am desirous of proceeding on long leave as a result of the harassment and belittlement meted out to me by your Lordship and to ensure that the decorum of the Court is maintained to the satisfaction of the general public, since I feel aggrieved even though I have established my cases with substantial back ups.”.Justice Karnan’s relationship with the Chief Justice Kaul took a turn for the worse earlier this year when he initiated suo motu proceedings against the CJ’s decision to constitute a five-member committee for interviewing potential civil judges and passed an order staying the decision of the Chief Justice..After a Division Bench stayed Justice Karnan’s order, he got the matter listed before him on the judicial side and reiterated his earlier order, this time threatening Justice Kaul of contempt and proceedings under the SC/ST Act..The High Court subsequently approached the Supreme Court against Justice Karnan for exhibiting judicial indiscipline and challenging the authority of the Chief Justice..The case is pending in Supreme Court.