Karnan petitions Governor for bail

Former Calcutta High Court judge C S Karnan, jailed on an order of the Supreme Court, has moved a petition before the governor of West Bengal seeking bail or parole.

Karnan, 62, who was lodged at the Presidency Correctional Home here on June 21 following his arrest in Tamil Nadu a day earlier, is at present undergoing treatment at the state-run SSKM Hospital He was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment for contempt of court by a seven-judge bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice of India J S Khehar, on May 9.

Questioning the constitutionality of the order of imprisonment of Karnan by the apex court, the petition said, “It is requested that the applicant may please be enlarged on bail/parole till the said lacunae are remedied and constitutional supremacy restored.”

Making the appeal through his lawyers, Karnan said, “The applicant is ready and willing to abide by any terms and conditions that may be imposed for granting bail/parole to him.”

He appealed to Governor Kesri Nath Tripathi that he should “exercise the jurisdiction invested in your excellency and enlarge the prisoner Shri Justice C S Karnan on bail/parole in the interest of justice and equity”.

“The appeal has been sent by speed post to the governor,” Karnan’s counsel Mathew J Nedumpara said.

“Copies of the representation have also been sent to the West Bengal chief minister, the home minister and the law minister of the state," Nedumpara said.

Karnan, who retired as a judge of the Calcutta High Court on June 12 as a fugitive, was arrested on June 20 from Coimbatore.