KARNAN RETIRES AS A FUGITIVE
UNCEREMONIOUS EXIT COINCIDES WITH HIS BIRTHDAY
Calcutta high court’s justice CS Karnan on Monday became the first judge to retire while being on the run, facing arrest. Incidentally, his unceremonious exit coincides with his 62nd birthday.
Calcutta high court, in another first, did not host the customary farewell dinner for the retiring judge, who is also facing a six-month jail sentence.
Justice Karnan has been absconding since May 9 after a seven-judge Supreme Court bench passed an unprecedented arrest order against him.
The order was issued after his embarrassing spat with senior judges of the top court in the course of which he even ordered the arrest of the Chief Justice of India. While issuing the arrest warrant against him, the Supreme Court also ordered the media to refrain from reporting Karnan’s statements.
Karnan has alleged that he is being targeted because he is a Dalit. His last official working day would have been Friday because his retirement came into effect on Sunday.
“Since Monday is the first working day, there would have been a full-court reference in Court No 1 to bid adieu to the retiring judge,” a senior Calcutta high court official told HT. “This is done whenever a judge retires or gets transferred,” he added.
None of these were being organised on Monday. In fact, a lot of other things, too, had not been done. Court officials said that paperwork involving a judge’s port-retirement benefits is usually taken care of at least two months before retirement so that there is no delay in disbursement of pension. “But the judge had been barred by the Supreme Court from attending office. He did not come to court for months,” said an official.