SC sends Justice Karnan to jail for six months on contempt charges

The Supreme Court on Tuesday sentenced Calcutta High Court judge Justice C S Karnan to six months in jail for contempt of court and said its order needs to be executed forthwith.

The apex court also banned the media from publishing content of orders passed by Justice Karnan last night by which he "sentenced" Chief Justice of India J S Khehar and seven other judges of the Supreme Court to five years rigorous imprisonment.The top court ordered Bengal DGP to arrest Justice Karnan immediately.

Justice Karnan had on May 4 declined to undergo a mental health



checkup as ordered by the Supreme Court, telling a team of doctors he is "absolutely normal" and has a "stable mind".

The apex court has taken suo motu cognisance of various letters written by Justice Karnan against judges of the Madras high court and the Supreme Court and restrained him from exercising administrative and judicial power from February 8.

Justice Karnan appeared before the Supreme Court on March 31 in connection with the contempt proceeding, becoming the first high court judge to do so in the history of Indian judiciary.