The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to grant relief to Calcutta High Court judge Justice CS Karnan in the contempt case.
Two petitions were filed in the Supreme Court, one seeking relief from the six months imprisonment’ and the second, stating that the apex court had no right to pass orders against him and impeachment proceedings can only be done after consulting the parliament.
However, refusing to hear the petitions, the vacation bench observed that only the special bench can pass orders or grant relief.
On May 9, a seven-judge bench had found Justice Karnan of contempt of court and had sentenced him to six months imprisonment. The Calcutta High Court judge was facing contempt proceedings for writing a letter to Prime Minister accusing various judges and officers of the Madras High Court of corruption.
On May 19, the Supreme Court had denied Justice CS Karnan’s plea for recall of the six-month jail term for contempt of court. The Supreme Court registrar had said, “I am constrained, but to hold that the present writ petition is not maintainable. The relief, if any, lies somewhere else. I, thus, see no reasonable cause to receive the present writ petition for registration under the provisions of order XV, rule (5) of the Supreme Court rules, 2013 ,” reported Deccan Chronicle.
Justice Karnan’s whereabouts have been unknown for the last one month, with the Kolkata police camped in Chennai since May 10 to arrest the HC judge. He is set to retire on June 12.