Justice Karnan dares Supreme Court to jail him in a contempt case

Controversial Calcutta high court judge C S Karnan appeared in the Supreme Court on Friday in a contempt case after weeks of unprecedented public confrontation with the top court.

Karnan — a Dalit — hit the headlines for accusing several judges of the Madras high court, where he earlier served, and a Supreme Court judge of corruption, nepotism and casteism.

He also repeatedly rejected the top court’s summons in a contempt case.

On Friday, Karnan appeared combative and even dared the Supreme Court to send him to jail, saying he would not personally appear on the next date.

His comment came after the apex court said it would not restore judicial work to Karnan. “I am also holding constitutional post. My dignity has been hurt and work has been taken away without hearing me,” Karnan told the court.

The apex court had on February 8 issued a contempt notice to the judge and asked Karnan to be personally present before the top court on February 13.

But Karnan did not obey the court order and failed to appear. Instead, he wrote a letter questioning the contempt proceedings against him. According to the judge, only Parliament had the power to initiate action against a sitting high court judge by way of an impeachment.

“The characteristic of this order clearly shows the upper caste judges are taking law into their hands and misusing their judicial power by operating the same against a SC/ST Judge...,” Karnan had said.