The Supreme Court on Monday, rejected Kolkata High Court judge Justice C.S. Karnan’s appeal on his arrest order. The apex court also warned the lawyers against wasting the court’s time. The Court said, “You are wasting our time. we will hear the petition when it comes to us.”
Karnan’s lawyer was seeking an urgent hearing over the order passed by the SC on Karnan’s jail term. Karnan was ordered a six months jail sentence on May 9 for contempt of court. This is the first time in the history of Indian law a sitting judge was punished by the court.
While Karnan’s lawyer is appealing, the judge has been missing in action and is said to have fled the country. A team of police from West Bengal is searching for him high and low. They also established a camp in Chennai, the judge’s native place, so as to locate him. The WB police along with local police have already questioned Karnan’s family and relatives along with several acquaintances to trace Justice Karnan’s whereabouts.
Karnan has been at loggerheads with the Supreme Court after he sentenced five judges to five years of jail against the law, and leading to contempt of court. He is also the first sitting judge to be sentenced a month before his retirement, dated June 21.
