Our Correspondent
Calcutta High Court judge C S Karnan who is facing contempt case in supreme court has termed the apex court warrant against him as unconstitutional and alleged that he was being targeted for being a ‘Dalit’ .
Talking to newsmen at his residence, he claimed, Supreme Court has no locus standi to issue a bailable warrant against a sitting judge. Justice Karnan said, only a motion of impeachment can be initiated against a sitting judge of the higher judiciary before Parliament after due inquiry, under the Judges Enquiry Act.
Earlier today Supreme Court issued an arrest warrant against serving Calcutta High Court judge C S Karnan to ensure his presence before it on March 31 in a contempt case.
A seven-judge bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar said there is no other alternative to seek presence of Justice Karnan, therefore the court orders that he will have to furnish a personal bond of Rs 10,000 to secure bail. The bench also directed the West Bengal Director General of Police to personally execute the arrest warrant on Justice Karnan to ensure his presence before it on March 31, the next date of hearing.
The bench, also comprising Justices Dipak Misra, J Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, M B Lokur, P C Ghose and Kurian Joseph, refused to consider a communication, written to apex court registry on March 8, as his response to the notice issued against him earlier.