Former High Court Judge Justice CS Karnan Dies in Chennai at 71

Justice CS Karnan, a former High Court judge who became a controversial figure in Indian legal history, has died in Chennai at the age of 71. According to reports, he passed away at Apollo Hospitals on Friday, November 13, while undergoing treatment for health complications. Known widely as Justice Karnan, he famously challenged the authority of the Supreme Court of India in a series of unprecedented legal confrontations.

The Legal Confrontation

In early 2017, the former Calcutta High Court judge initiated a public conflict with the Supreme Court by writing to the Prime Minister, alleging corruption among numerous judges. Following this, a seven-judge Supreme Court bench led by the then Chief Justice of India, JS Khehar, initiated contempt proceedings against him and stripped him of his judicial and administrative responsibilities. In response, Karnan converted his New Town residence in Kolkata into a makeshift courtroom, asserting that he maintained his judicial authority.

From his home, he issued a series of orders, including non-bailable arrest warrants against the Chief Justice and six other Supreme Court judges. He further purported to sentence eight judges to five years of rigorous imprisonment, accusing them of caste discrimination and violations of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The Supreme Court rejected these allegations as unsubstantiated and found that his actions undermined the judiciary.

Justice CS Karnan was the first sitting High Court judge in India sentenced to prison for contempt.

On May 9, 2017, the Supreme Court sentenced Karnan to six months in prison. He evaded authorities for over a month before being arrested in Coimbatore on June 20, 2017, and was subsequently lodged in Kolkata's Presidency Jail. He was released in December of that year. Years later, in December 2020, he was arrested by Chennai Police for allegedly making obscene remarks and threats against judges and their families in online videos, remaining in custody until he was granted conditional bail in March 2021.

Why it matters

The life and career of Justice CS Karnan remain a significant chapter in India's judicial history. His actions sparked national debate regarding the limits of judicial authority, the necessity of judicial accountability, and the protocols surrounding contempt of court. For the legal community and the public in India, his case serves as a rare instance of a direct, public clash between a sitting High Court judge and the Supreme Court, highlighting the complexities of internal institutional conflicts.