Calcutta High Court judge CS Karnan has passed on order directing the Air Control Authority, New Delhi, to not allow the Chief Justice of India and seven Supreme Court judges to travel abroad. The restriction was ordered till the disposal of cases against them, according to ToI.
The order was reportedly passed at the judge's makeshift court at his residence in Rosdale Towers, New Town in Kolkata. Earlier, on April 13, Justice Karnan had issued an 'order' for registration of a case under appropriate sections of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, against CJI JS Khehar and six other SC judges.
It is not clear if the "order" from April 13 has any legal validity since the apex court had taken away administrative and judicial powers from Karnan.
The seven judges had issued a suo motu contempt order against Karnan in February after he had in January named 20 "corrupt judges", seeking probe against them to curb "high corruption" in the Indian judiciary.
Subsequently, Justice Karnan appeared before the apex court on March 31 following a bailable warrant issued against him by the apex court.
The seven justices gave the Calcutta High Court judge four weeks to respond to the contempt notice issued to him. Even as he presented himself before the Supreme Court justices, Karnan told them that he would not respond to the notice.
Karnan said in his purported order: "...I am directing the Hon'ble seven judges to give your replies in person or through your council (Counsel) regarding declaration of guilt and quantum of punishment by 28.04.2017 at 11.30 am at my residence which has now become my make-shift court at Rosedale, New Town, Kolkata."
In his rare defiance of Supreme Court justices, Karnan said he had "pronounced a judgement wherein the seven judges are accused under the Scheduled Caste and Schedule Tribes Atrocities Act, 1989." He said the justices had "committed heinous crime."
The Supreme Court, while issuing Justice Karnan a contempt notice, had said he would not discharge any judicial and administrative functions during the pendency of the proceedings. Justice Karnan said the order against him was passed "without following due procedure of law while violating the Principle of Natural Justice..."
In furtherance of his so-called order, Karnan said, "The Hon'ble seven judges... are not permitted to move any court against this Court's order since the first accused namely the CJI (Chief Justice of India) is controlling all courts in India."
Karnan said while appearing before the Supreme Court bench in relation to the contempt notice, he had sought some clarification from the seven-judge bench.
"What relief they are seeking against me. They did not answer," he added.
Karnan is required to be present before the apex court justices by the end of the month.