Defiant despite the Supreme Court stripping him of his powers and issuing an arrest warrant against him, Calcutta High Court judge Justice CS Karnan today had around 100 cops led by the chief of the West Bengal Police at his doorstep in Kolkata today to serve him the warrant in a contempt case.
However, Karnan refused to accept the warrant. “But he refused to accept it,” said W Peter Ramesh, the lawyer of the judge.
"The DGP of West Bengal Police, ADGP of Intelligence-Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and an Superintendent of Police from Tamilnadu along with more than 20 police personnel came to Justice Karnan's residence today (Friday) to hand him over the warrant. But he refused to accept it,” Ramesh added.
However, ADG of CID Rajesh Kumar said that Justice Karnan accepted the warrant.
“He gave his observation on the bailable warrant and accepted it,” Kumar said.
The warrant was ordered by the apex court after he refused to appear before it in a contempt case. Instead, in a court called in his lawn, Justice Karnan passed a suo moto order directing the Central Bureau of Investigation to probe the very judges who had issued a contempt notice against him.
Justice Karnan has also sought a a compensation of Rs 14 crore from the judges.
In a letter addressed to the CJI and six senior-most Supreme Court judges, Justice Karnan has demanded a compensation of Rs 14 crore for disturbing his mind and normal life. Justice Karnan has said that if his demand is not met, he would restrain the judicial and administrative work of these judges.
He also ordered the CBI to probe and report to Parliament on his complaint of corruption against 20 sitting and retired SC and HC judges.
“You have constituted an unconstitutional bench after breaking the Indian constitutional law and passed a suo motu contempt order and restrained me from judicial and administrative work and that order was passed with malafide intention in order to harass a Dalit Judge (myself),” said Justice Karnan in his two-page letter to the seven judges.
“Judge means a dignified person of law who has to hear both sides of the case and pass order in accordance with law. Hence, I request you (CJI and other six judges) to cancel the unconstitutional bench and restore my normal work. The seven judges should pay compensation, a sum of Rs 14 crore since you have disturbed my mind and my normal life, besides you have insulted me in the general public consisting of a population of 120 crores in India due to lack of legal knowledge,” the letter added.
The Supreme Court had issued bailable arrest warrant against him on March 10 while ordering him to to ensure his presence before it on March 31 in a contempt case.
However, ignoring the consequences, Justice Karnan, who has been divested of both judicial and administrative work, passed an order on Wednesday and followed it with a letter to the seven judges on Thursday.
