Supreme Court orders medical evaluation of Calcutta HC judge CS Karnan in contempt case

Source – intoday.in

The Supreme Court today ordered the medical examination of Calcutta High Court Judge Justice CS Karnan in a contempt case for accusing 20 current and former judges of higher judiciary of corruption.

The apex court has directed Calcutta government hospital to constitute a board for medical examination of Karnan.

SC has also directed Director General of Police to form a team of police officials to assist with the medical board. The apex court bench led by Justice Kehar ordered Calcutta government hospital doctors to examine Justice Karnan on May 4 and submit a report by May 8.

The Supreme Court also said that Justice Karnan may submit a response if he likes. The Supreme Court had earlier restrained courts or tribunals to take cognizance of orders passed by Karnan.

Justice Karnan had earlier banned eight Supreme Court judges, including Chief Justice J S Kehar from travelling abroad.  He had also ordered CJI Kehar and seven other SC judges to appear before him.

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.

Sources said that the order came after senior advocate K K Venugopal requested the bench to defer contempt of court proceedings against Justice Karnan who is expected to retire in June this year.

The CJI reportedly said that the judiciary must deal with Karnan or lose face and stated that further hearing of the case will be held on May 18.