SC Refuses to Hear Justice Karnan’s Plea Against Jail Term

Justice CS Karnan’s petition was held as “not maintainable” by the apex court registry.(Photo: PTI)

Calcutta High Court judge Justice C S Karnan, evading arrest since 9 May, has received yet another jolt from the Supreme Court, which has refused to list and hear his plea seeking recall of the order awarding six-month jail term for contempt of court.

The petition was held as “not maintainable” by the apex court registry.

The order, sentencing him to jail term, was passed on 12 May and sent to Justice Karnan's lawyers three days later. Karnan is yet to be arrested.

Also Read: Justice Karnan Files Mercy Petition, Seeks Stay on Jail Term

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 imprisionment of six months. The said findings have since attained finality.

An apex court registrar

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.

An apex court registrar

The judge, through his lawyers, had moved the apex court seeking recall of the 9 May 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 12 May, 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.

Also Read: Don’t Waste Our Time: SC Rejects Urgent Hearing on Karnan’s Appeal

“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, said.

He had sought recall of the apex court order awarding him six month imprisonment, saying that he could not be held guilty of 'contempt of court'.

He had said if the allegations levelled by him were untrue, then "it would at the most amount to defamation".

"Under our constitutional scheme, high courts are not subordinate to the Supreme Court; high courts are as much independent as the Supreme Court is, though their orders could be judicially challenged in the Supreme Court, the latter being a Court of Appeal," the petition said.

Justice Karnan said the Contempt of Courts Act was a “cathartic jurisprudence which belonged to the Dark Ages, the era of inquisition and torture, distinct from the classical Roman Law which constitutes the foundation of the modern jurisprudence.”

He has said the show cause notice issued by a seven judge bench to him on 8 February be declared "unconstitutional" as it was against "the principles of natural justice".

Also Read: Not in Chennai, Now Not in Andhra Either: Where Is Justice Karnan?

He has also sought a stay on all "further proceedings" pursuant to the 9 May order holding him guilty of contempt and awarded six months jail term.

Meanwhile, the lawyers representing Justice Karnan have claimed that a representation has been made to the President seeking suspension of the SC order sentencing him to six-month imprisonment for contempt.

However, the president's office said, "It was not aware of any such representation."