Judge Karnan refuses psychiatric evaluation
KOLKATA : Defiant Calcutta high court judge Justice CS Karnan refused to be examined by a fourmember team of psychiatrists who arrived at his New Town residence to execute a Supreme Court order on Thursday.
The doctors from the Calcutta Pavlov Hospital for Mental Patients, who were accompanied by police officers, stayed at the judge’s house for about an hour.
The doctors from Pavlov Hospital reached Karnan’s residence along with a police team from the Bidhannagar Commissionerate. Karnan welcomed them, and even treated them to tea. He, however, refused to be examined.
“I decline medical treatment since I am absolutely normal and with a stable mind. It’s my strong view that the Supreme Court order amounts to insulting and harassing a Dalit judge (myself),” Karnan said in a three-page statement addressed to the medical board chairman.
He handed several copies of the letter to his visitors. The document also dubbed the judicial services offered by the seven Supreme Court judges as unsuitable for the country.
“My deep request on the behalf of 127 crore Indian people is to keep the welfare of the nation as the general requirement,” the statement read. “Therefore, I request the seven honourable judges to do the right thing by resigning as it is only too obvious that (they) are rendering judicial service only for personal gain. The seven judges are encouraging corruption.”
The order for Justice Karnan’s check-up was passed by a seven-member SC bench, headed by CJI JS Khehar, on May 1. The high court judge responded the same day by passing a u order directing a psychological examination of apex court judges – including the CJI.