Supreme Court refuses to grant relief to Justice Karnan in contempt of court case

The controversial judge has been evading arrest since May 9.

New Delhi, June 7: The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to grant relief to Justice CS Karnan, in the contempt of court case where he was sentenced to six-month imprisonment. The apex court had earlier refused to list and hear his plea seeking recall of the order in the case. The controversial judge has been evading arrest since May 9.

“It is thus manifestly clear from the averments made in the petition that the petitioner intends to impugne and challenge the judicial order passed by this court on May 9, 2017, in the suo motu petition.

“The proceedings therein were decided on merits and after due consideration, it was held that Justice CS Karnan had committed contempt of the gravest nature resulting in finding of guilt. As a sequel the petitioner also stands convicted and sentenced to an imprisonment of six months. The said findings have since attained finality,” an apex court registrar, who deals with listing of fresh writ petitions, had said in his order.

“I am constrained but to hold that the present writ petition is not maintainable. The relief if any lies some where else. I thus see no reasonable cause to receive the present writ petition for registration under the provisions of Supreme Court rules, 2013”, the registrar had said.

The judge, through his lawyers, had moved the apex court seeking recall of the May 9 order of the seven-judge bench which had held him guilty of contempt of court and sentenced him to six months imprisonment by ordering the West Bengal police to take him into custody forthwith.

On May 12, Justice Karnan, whom the West Bengal police is looking for, had moved the apex court for reliefs saying neither high courts, nor their judges are “subordinate” to it.

“The petitioner, a judge of the High Court of Calcutta, is not under any disciplinary jurisdiction of either the CJI or the bench of seven judges constituted by the CJI, as in the instant case,” the plea, filed through lawyer Mathews J Nedumpara, had said.

With inputs from PTI