SC orders Justice Karnan's medical examination (file photo)New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday directed medical examination of Calcutta High Court Justice C.S. Karnan, who has been on a confrontation with the apex court, and also ordered that no authority should take cognizance of any orders passed by him.
A seven-judge bench headed by the Chief Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar directed the constitution of a medical board to examine Karnan on May 4.
The medical evaluation has to be submitted on May 8, before the next hearing of the matter on May 9.
The court directed the West Bengal Director General of Police to constitute a team of police to assist the medical board in conducting the medical examination.
The court also directed that in the meantime, no tribunal or authority in the country would take cognizance of any orders passed by Justice Karnan.
Karnan is facing contempt charges for degrading the judiciary and making allegations of corruption against Supreme Court judges.
On April 13, in a renewed confrontation, Justice Karnan had passed a 'judicial order' against seven Supreme Court judges, including Chief Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar, for 'violating' the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and directed them to 'appear' before him on April 28.
The seven judges had issued a suo motu contempt order against Karnan in February after he had in January named 20 'corrupt judges', seeking probe against them to curb 'high corruption' in the Indian judiciary.
Justice C.S. Karnan reacts
Adopting a belligerent approach, Justice C.S. Karnan of Calcutta High Court on Monday said he will not undergo a medical examination as ordered by the Supreme Court in connection with a contempt case against him.
Justice Karnan, who has been restrained by the apex court from exercising his judicial and administrative powers, also threatened to "pass suo motu suspension order against the Director General of Police (DGP) of West Bengal, if the DGP functions against my wish."
"This kind of harassment order against my sanity is an additional insult to an innocent dalit Judge who is of sound health and mind," Justice Karnan said shortly after the apex court pronounced the order.
"I further direct the Director General of Police, New Delhi to take all the seven judges and produce them to a psychiatric medical board attached to the AIIMS Hospital, New Delhi, to conduct appropriate medical tests on the seven accused and submit a copy of the report on or before May 7, 2017," Justice Karnan said in a signed order, a copy of which was given to the media.
Justice Karnan also said that before securing the seven judges their respective families should be accordingly informed.
