Bengal police chief serves bailable warrant to Justice Karnan

Kolkata March 17 (IANS) The West Bengal DGP on Friday served the bailable warrant issued by the Supreme Court constitution bench to sitting Calcutta High Court judge Justice C.S. Karnan for refusing to heed summons to appear before the apex court in a contempt case initiated suo motu by it.

The bench headed by Chief Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar has sought Justice Karnan s presence before the apex court on March 31.

In compliance of the Supreme Court Director General of Police (DGP) Surajit Kar Paurakayastha -- accompanied by city Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar and and Deputy Inspector General (Criminal Investigation Department) Rajesh Kumar -- went to Justice Kannan s residence in north-east Kolkata s New Town and served the warrant.

Yes one copy was served on me Justice Karnan told mediapersons after the police officers had left.

Justice Karnan however said the bailable complaint had become immaterial.

The bailable complaint is immaterial because on the same complaint I have already issued direction to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct a comprehensive inquiry and submit a report to Parliament he said.

He also sent a letter to the SC constitution bench which issued the bailable warrant saying he had rejected it.

My Lords your bailable order dated March 10 2017 in the suo motu contempt proceedings today top police officers from the Calcutta High Court Circle came to my residence in order to execute the bailable warrant earmarked for 10.30 a.m on March 31 2017.

I rejected the same after assigning valid reasons Justice Karnan said in the letter.

In an unprecedented happening in the country s judicial corridors the Supreme Court on March 10 issued the bailable warrant against Justice Karnan who within hours hit back by holding a media conference where he ordered the CBI to probe all the seven judges.

He had also railed against the Supreme Court order calling it an attempt to ruin his life as a Dalit judge and directed that a case be filed under the SC and ST Act.

Earlier the Supreme Court bench had issued a contempt notice to Justice Karnan for writing letters casting aspersions on several judges. It had also said Justice Karnan would not discharge any judicial and administrative functions during the pendency of the proceedings.

It is for the first time in the Supreme Court s history that it has invoked powers to initiate contempt proceedings against a sitting judge of a high court.

Justice Karnan had in January named 20 corrupt judges seeking probe against them to curb high corruption in the Indian judiciary.

The bench on February 8 had directed Justice Karnan to appear in person to explain why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against him.

--IANS
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