TIA NEWS /NEW DELHI
The Supreme Court today issued contempt notice to Calcutta High Court Judge CS Karnam and asked him to appear in person before it on the coming Monday to explain why contempt proceedings be not initiated against him.
The court restrained him forthwith from undertaking judicial and administrative work.
A seven-judge bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar, comprising Justices Dipak Misra, J Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, M B Lokur, P C Ghose and Kurian Joseph also directed Justice Karnan to return all judicial and administrative files in his possession to the Registrar General of the High Court immediately.
The apex court turned the alleged contemptuous letters written by Justice Karnan against the Madras High Court Chief Justice which were addressed to the Chief Justice of India, Prime Minister and others, into contempt proceedings against him.
The bench directed the apex court registry to ensure that the copy of its order be served on Justice Karnan during the course of the day and listed the suo motu contempt petition against him for further hearing on 13th February.
Earlier, Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi referred to the nature of public communications allegedly undertaken by Justice Karnan saying they were “slanderous” and “disparaging” to the system of administration of justice. He urged the benchto direct Chief Justice of the High Court to restrain the judge concerned from taking up judicial and administrative work.
The court took note of his submissions and said that it has to be established whether Justice Karnan has undertaken the communications. The court said, it will act against a sitting High Court judge for the first time and have to be very careful as it will set a precedent for times to come.