A seven-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court has ordered a medical examination to be conducted on Justice Karnan. The medical board that is being constituted will examine his mental condition. Justice Karnan, who is facing contempt proceedings, has been told that he is not in a position to defend himself now.
West Bengal DGP has been instructed to constitute a team of police personnel to conduct get the medical examination. The Supreme Court has asked the medical board to examine Karnan on May 5 and submit its report on or before May 8. The next date of hearing is on May 18.
The SC bench also noted that the “present conduct of the Justice Karnan was extremely contemptuous.” As per reports, senior advocate KK Venugopal said in court that “Justice Karnan needed counseling” and he was not “consciously passing such orders”.
The order comes after Justice Karnan ordered the Air Control Authority of India to debar SC judges from travelling abroad and “spread the virus of caste discrimination.” A suo motu contempt order was issued against Karnan in February. Maning 20 “corrupt judges”, Karnan had soought probe against them to curb “high corruption” in the Indian judiciary.
In March, the sitting High Court judge had appeared before a 7-member SC bench to answer the charges of contempt levelled against him. It was the first time in Indian judicial history that a judge had appeared before a court
He offered to give an “unconditional” apology if his judicial work was restored. However, the SC refused his offer and asked the judge to reply to the contempt notice in another four weeks.
