Judge Karnan 'rejects' bailable warrant

Calcutta High Court judge C S Karnan seems to have adopted a more defiant stand, “rejecting” on Friday the bailable arrest warrant sought to be served on him by West Bengal Police to ensure his appearance before the Supreme Court on March 31.

In a fresh letter to the Chief Justice of India and the six other judges who passed the order, he termed the warrants as “demeaning acts” that caused “utter embarrassment to a Dalit judge”. A day earlier, he had sought Rs 14 crore as compensation from them.

The apex court had on March 10 issued the bailable warrants for his failure to appear before it or respond to its notices in the contempt case over his allegations of corruption against top judges.On Friday, West Bengal Director General of Police Surajit Kar Purakayastha, along with about 100 police personnel, served the warrant on Justice Karnan.

“The DGP handed over the bailable warrant to Justice Karnan at his New Town residence this morning,” a senior state police officer said.But in a letter to the seven-judge bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar, Justice Karnan said he had rejected it.

“My Lords, your bailable



order dated March 10, 2017 in the suo motu contempt proceedings, today top police officers from the Calcutta High Court Circle came to my residence in order to execute the bailable warrant earmarked for 10.30 am on March 31, 2017. I rejected the same after assigning valid reasons,” he wrote.

A day earlier, the controversial judge demanded Rs 14 crore as compensation from the seven judges for “disturbing my mind and personal life” by initiating action against him.

Noted jurist Ram Jethmalani had earlier advised Justice Karnan to withdraw his remarks against the top judiciary.On March 10, as the apex court took unprecedented action against Justice Karnan by issuing the warrant, he went on to term their order as “unconstitutional”.

Justice Karnan had failed to appear before the apex court on March 10 and February 13 despite notices.

He had earlier alleged he was targeted for being a Dalit. He also claimed to have issued an order for registration of a case under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 against Chief Justice of India and the six other judges.