CNN-News18
First published: February 13, 2017, 11:40 AM IST | Updated: 18 mins ago
File photo of Supreme Court and image of Justice CS Karnan (inset).
New Delhi: Calcutta High Court judge C. S. Karnan failed to appear in Supreme Court on Monday in connection with suo motu contempt proceedings.
“We are not aware of reasons for his non-appearance. We, therefore, refrain from proceeding with the matter,” said SC.
The apex court deferred the proceedings in the case by three weeks as neither Karnan nor his lawyer appears before it.
SC takes on record letter written by Justice Karnan to Registrar General of apex court in which he alleged victimisation for being a Dalit.
On February 11, Karnan has played the Dalit card in connection with the contempt proceedings and asked the SC to refer the matter to Parliament, contending it was “not sustainable”.
Justice Karnan wrote a strongly worded letter addressed to Registrar General of the apex court on receiving the February 8 order of the seven-judge bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar asking him to appear in person before it on February 13 to explain as to why contempt proceedings be not initiated against him.
“Before obtaining any explanation from me, I wish to state that the Courts have no power to enforce punishment against a sitting judge of the High Court. The said order does not conform to logic, therefore it is not suitable for execution,” he had said.
(With PTI inputs)