Justice Karnan moves SC seeking recall of conviction order

Kolkata High Court Judge C S Karnan, who is facing certain arrest in a contempt of court case, today moved the Supreme Court seeking a recall of its arrest order.

The SC had ordered his arrest and sentenced him to a six-month jail term.

Advocate Mathews J Nedumpara filed the petition for the recall of the SC order on Justice Karnan and a five-judge bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar agreed to look into the matter.

The advocate also showed notorised papers authorising him to represent the judge and for filing the plea on behalf of the judge.

Amidst reports of Justice Karnan fleeing to neighbouring countries to evade arrest, the advocate clarified that he was "very much in Chennai."

A seven-judge bench of the apex court had passed an order on 9 May sentencing Justice Karnan to jail by holding him guilty of contempt of court and ordering the West Bengal police to take him into custody.

The state police are yet to arrest the judge.

The court had earlier directed medical examination of Calcutta High Court judge, who has been on a confrontation with the Supreme Court. The SC had also directed the constitution of a medical board to examine Karnan.

Besides, the apex court had directed that no authority should take cognisance of any orders passed by him.

"The seven judges looking at my case are corrupt. Do you think that I have a mental problem? I have made my complaint against 20 judges under the law. Why are these seven judges taking a special interest in me?" Karnan had asked in response to the order.

Ahead of the 9 May hearing of the matter, the medical report was supposed to have been submitted to the court, according to the SC directive to the West Bengal Director General of Police.