A seven-judge bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar, has ordered that a medical examination be conducted on Calcutta High Court Judge Justice CS Karnan, who is currently facing contempt charges from the court.
The Supreme Court has directed the Director General of Police to form a team of police officials that will ensure that the medical exam is properly conducted, and the medical board has been asked to submit its report by May 8, reported Live Law.
This order of the apex court comes two days after Justice Karnan, who has been suspended from judicial or administrative duties, “passed an order” banning foreign travel for the seven judges hearing the contempt case against him, including the CJI.
On Monday, the SC also directed all courts in the country, as well as other authorities, not to take cognisance of any orders passed by Justice Karnan after February 8.
Reacting to the court order, Justice Karnan said, “I have made my complaint against 20 judges under the law. Why are 7 judges taking a special interest in me? The seven judges looking at my case are corrupt; do you think that I have 'mental problem'?” in an interview with News 18.
“People against me are using medical test as a short cut to avoid atrocities under SC/ST act,” he added.
"The said order is a ridiculous order without proper application of mind in following appropriate procedures as required...the seven accused judges have desperately adopted this ridiculous order, in order to escape the punishment leviable via the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (prevention of) atrocity act," Justice Karnan said in a press release.
"With their phenomenal behaviour, it is the said seven judges who actually require medical examination," he added said.
On April 13, Justice Karnan had passed a "judicial order" against seven Supreme Court judges, including Chief Justice Khehar, for "violating" the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and directed them to "appear" before him on April 28.
Even prior to this, on March 31, the SC had expressed doubts about whether Justice Karnan was medically capable of defending himself, after he had said that he won’t appear before the top court again.
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.
Meanwhile, senior advocate KK Venugopal told the court that Justice Karnan should be let to retire in June and he should not be sent to jail.
KK Venugopal: Let J Karnan retire in June & go
— Krishnadas Rajagopal (@kdrajagopal) May 1, 2017
AG Rohatgi: Judges shud not be reduced to a laughing stock
CJI: We must deal with him
Sr Advocate K K Venugopal differs with AG and asks SC not to send J CSK to jail as he retires in June @LiveLawIndia
— Prabhati N. Mishra (@Prabhati_Mishra) May 1, 2017