Latest laws Helping good people to do good things.February,8,2017:
In an unprecedented development top seven senior-most Judges of the Supreme Court, with CJI, have initiated contempt proceedings against Justice C S Karnan posted at Calcutta High Court.
The Supreme Court has suo motu initiated contempt proceedings against a sitting High Court Judge who is found to have written letters,containing allegations of corruption not only against many sitting and retired Apex Court Judges but also High Court Judges.
This unprecedented move has seven senior-most Supreme Court judges with CJI, drawing up contempt proceedings against judge C S Karnan, Calcutta High Court .
Just a couple of weeks ago, Justice Karnan is knowm to have written an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling him to take urgent action against what he calls as “high corruption at the judiciary”.
This letter dated January 23, furnishes “an initial list of corrupt judges” and namea as many as 20 judges of the Supreme Court and different High courts.
Considering the seriousness of the issue, the bench headed by Chief Justice of India J S Khehar with the seven senior-most judges will hear today the suo motu contempt case against Justice Karnan.
Other than CJI Jstice JS Khehar, the Special Bench would include-
- Justice Dipak Misra,
- Justice J Chelameswar,
- Justice Ranjan Gogoi,
- Justice Madan B Lokur,
- Justice P C Ghose and
- Justice Kurian Joseph.
The Bench has taken a serious note of various letters and statements of Justice Karnan and would initiate contempt proceedings on that basis.
It is pertinent to share here that a sitting High Court Judge can be removed only through impeachment by Parliament.
It is believed that he course of action available with the apex court Bench would include withdrawl of Justice Karnan’s judicial powers. Bench can direct stopping of allocation of any work to him, besides simultaneously issuing restraint orders for stopping him from initiating any suo motu proceedings.
Justice Karnan has a history of controversies during his previous stint as a Madras High Court judge.
Earlier as well Supreme Court had to step in last year when he passed orders for staying his own transfer mooted by the apex court collegium. He is also known to have initiated proceedings against the Madras High Court chief justice.
He had also lodged a written complaints with National Commission for SC/ST alleging that he is being abused by fellow judges because he was a Dalit.
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27.2.2016 – Justice CS Karnan asked by SC to Join Calcutta High Court Before March 11
24.2.2016- ‘I had lost my Mental balance’ says Justice Karnan, after his Ugly spat with Supreme Court over his transfer
16.2.2016- Justice CS Karnan of Madras High Court tries to make bridges, meets Chief Justice of India
15.2.2016- Now Madras High Court Judge threatens SC Judges with FIR under SC/ST ( Prevention of Atrocities) Act
15.2.2016- New Low in Judiciary: Madras HC Judge Stays His Own Transfer, asks CJI to Submit Written Statement
14.2.1016- SC Collegium led by CJI cracks down again & transfers more High Court Justices across the country
11.5.2015- SC stays Madras HC Judge’s minacious order against his Chief Justice
1.5.2015- Madras HC stays contempt proceedings against commissioner of police
1.5.2015- ‘Avoid ego and stop acting in an autocratic manner’- High Court Judge tells his Chief Justice
