No relief for justice Karnan, SC’s no to urgent hearing against arrest order

Justice CS Karnan was found guilty of contempt and sentenced to six months in jail by the Supreme Court on May 9.

The Supreme Court on Monday again refused an urgent hearing on Calcutta high court justice CS Karnan’s plea to recall an arrest order issued against him for contempt of court..

Calcutta high court judge justice CS Karnan remains untraceable almost a week after 2017. According to local media reports Justice Karnan is set to undergo a "mental health evaluation' which has been ordered by The Supreme Court. / AFP PHOTO / STR (AFP file photo)

Justice Karnan, whose whereabouts are not known, had on May 12 sought a review of his conviction and six-month jail sentence.

His counsel Mathews Nedumpara had told the court that Karnan was in Chennai but police teams have been unable to trace the judge who is locked in an unprecedented showdown with the country’s top judges.

“I have sought a recall of the seven-judge bench’s order since no charges were framed against justice Karnan,” Nedumpara had said. He also furnished a signed document authorising him to appear on behalf of the controversial judge.

Karnan was convicted of contempt by the top court on May 9. It came a day after the judge sentenced Chief Justice of India JS Khehar and six other SC judges to five years in jail under the SC/ST act.

Karnan also accused these judges of caste bias, saying he was being singled out for being a Dalit.

What followed was a string or orders the two sides issued against each other, causing embarrassment for the judiciary which is locked in a tussle with the government over the procedure of appointment of judges.