Hours after a seven-judge-bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar ordered the medical examination of sitting Calcutta High Court Judge Justice CS Karnan, the defendant responded saying it was a “madman” order.
"Play it like I say – the order which was passed today by Supreme Court was a ‘madman’ order. They have lost their minds. Only those who are mentally unstable will pass such orders, it’s a mad order. I feel for them. The seven SC judges are not mentally stable. They need doctor’s help, I don’t. I am prosecuting them under SC/ST Act, so they are scared have lost their mind,” Justice CS Karnan said in an interview with News 18.
“I have made my complaint against 20 judges under the law. Why are seven judges taking a special interest in me? The seven judges looking at my case are corrupt; do you think that I have 'mental problem'?” he asked.
“People against me are using medical test as a shortcut to avoid atrocities under SC/ST act,” he added.
Earlier in the day the apex court had directed the Director General of Police to conduct a medical test of Justice Karnan after he had “passed an order” banning foreign travel for the seven judges hearing the contempt case against him, including the CJI.
On March 10, the Supreme Court had issued a warrant against Justice Karnan in relation to the contempt proceedings, the first such warrant against a sitting High Court judge. The court initiated proceedings against him for a letter he wrote to the Prime Minister.
Written in January, the letter was an "initial list of corrupt judges" and officers of the Madras High Court, accusing all of them of corruption. Justice Karnan told the Prime Minister in the letter that the corruption charges can be proved by 'competent officers' of central agencies.