Justice Karnan directs to issue NBW against seven SC judges, including CJI

Calcutta High Court judge Justice C.S. Karnan on Tuesday directed the court's registrar to issue non-bailable warrant against seven Supreme Court judges.

The order copy was given by Justice Karnan's associate on his behalf.

The seven judges include Chief Justice of India Jagdish Singh Khehar, Justice Dipak Misra, Justice J. Chelameswar, Justice Ranjan Gogoi, Justice Madan B. Lokur, Justice Pinkai Chandra Ghose and Justice Kurian Joseph.

Justice Karnan tagged the apex court judges as 'accused' for not being present.

Justice Karnan instructed the registrar general at the Kolkata High Court to issue NBW against the seven judges, to be executed through the Director General of Police or Commissioner of Police New Delhi.

Earlier, in response to the apex court ordering an examination of his 'mental health', Justice Karnan asserted that he would issue a suo-moto suspension order against West Bengal Director General of Police (DGP), if he forcefully conducted a medical checkup.

"If the West Bengal DGP comes to check my mental health forcefully, then I will issue a suo-moto suspension order against him," said Karnan at a press conference.

Karnan further asserted that the DGP should take all the seven accused judges for medical test too.

"Before coming to check on me, the New Delhi DGP should take all the seven accused judges and produce them to psychiatric medical board to conduct a medical test," he said.

The apex court has constituted a medical board to examine the mental condition of justice Karnan on May 5 and has also directed the DG West Bengal to assist the medical board to get Justice Karnan examined.

The medical reports will be submitted on or before May 8. The next hearing will be held on May 9.

The Supreme Court said in its order that High Courts, any tribunal and authority would not take any cognizance on the orders passed by Justice Karnan.

Earlier, in an unprecedented move, the apex court invoked its powers to initiate contempt proceedings against Justice Karnan, for writing letters casting aspersions on several judges.

Justice Karnan has been accused of circulation of disparaging letters against sitting High Court judges of the Madras High Court, and he has also allegedly written about Supreme Court judges in his letters to the Prime Minister's Office.