Today, for the first time in the Judiciary’s annal, Calcutta High Court sitting judge was marked his presence before Supreme Court seven judge bench regarding the contempt proceedings initiated against him as he made an open allegations about judges that they are corrupt and for that he has proof. Before this time he didn’t budge instead of repeated notices issued by SC.
It was a confrontational hearing before seven judge bench, on 25 March he also made an unconditionally apologize to the bench, when the same was asked by Justice Dipak Misra, Justice Karnan rebutted it by saying that the complaint he has given is very much clear under law, he further said that they should first restore his powers as a judge in order for him to be in a position to prove his allegations.
He said I will render unconditional apology if I have committed contempt. To which Mukul Rohtagi said Apology for contempt cannot be conditional.
The question regarding medical fitness of Justice Karnan was also raised as on one hand he made an unconditional apology and on other hand he was saying he will supply the judges with material to prove the complaint against the judges. Upon this SC give him time of 4 weeks to file a reply.
When SC refused to restore judicial and administrative power of Justice Karnan, he said “I have lost my physical and mental balance..If you do not restore my work, you can very well now impose any punishment you want,” “If you feel you are not mentally fit to respond to us in an affidavit, you give us a medical certificate,” Chief Justice Khehar replied. “Medical certificate is not required. You have disturbed me like anything,” Justice Karnan.
Court will now hear this matter on 1 May, 2017.
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