Unmindful of the price he has to pay, Justice Karnan continues the fight against his brother judges The Week brings to you what is on the maverick judge's mind
About three weeks ago, I rang up Justice Chinnaswamy Swaminathan Karnan, sitting judge of the Calcutta High Court, requesting an interview. “I am out of station now. I will consider whether to give you an interview or not after I return,” he replied.
Justice Karnan has been engaged in a bitter legal battle with the Supreme Court. A seven-member Constitution Bench of the apex court on February 8, 2017 stripped him of all his judicial powers and asked for an explanation about the allegations of corruption he raised against judges of the Supreme Court and the Madras High Court. Justice Karnan retaliated by issuing a contempt notice to the seven judges. Subsequently, the Supreme Court ordered Justice Karnan to be medically examined to know whether he was “feigning mental imbalance” and submit the report by May 8. Within hours of the order, Justice Karnan asked the Delhi Police to get the seven judges examined by a psychiatric board.
Is he insane? I wondered. But he seemed perfectly all right when I talked to him over the phone. I again called him up for the appointment. This time, the judge burst into laughter. “Why would you like to interview me? The Supreme Court thinks I have lost my mental balance,” he said.
“Your lordship, I would like to see for myself,” I replied.
Justice Karnan handed over the phone to his secretary and I got an appointment for May 4, the same day the medical team mandated by the Supreme Court was scheduled to examine him. When I reached his sprawling apartment in the plush New Town area of Kolkata, which also functions as his makeshift office, a large media contingent was already present. I saw Justice Karnan in the corridor, dressed in a white shirt and dhoti, looking a little tense.
“Do you know where are the doctors and the police team accompanying them?” asked Justice Karnan.
Denne historien er fra May 21, 2017-utgaven av THE WEEK.
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Denne historien er fra May 21, 2017-utgaven av THE WEEK.
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