CONTEMPT OF JUDICIARY BY JUSTICE C.S. KARNAN
Hon’ble C.S. Karnan
AIR 2017 SC 3191: 2017 (7) SCALE 324:
2017 (5) MLJ 347: 2017 (4) RCR (Criminal) 379
Decided on: 09-05-2017
Hon’ble Judges: J.S. Khehar, CJI, Dipak Misra, J. Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi,
Madan B. Lokur, Pinaki Chandra Ghose and Kurian Joseph, JJ.
Facts: Suo Motu proceedings initiated against Justice C.S. Kaman for contempt of Court towards large number of Judges and judiciary in general. Bench of seven senior most Judges of the Supreme Court was constituted to examine whether Justice C.S. Kaman was guilty of committing contempt. This judgment is a concurrent opinion of J. Chelameshwar and Ranjan Gogoi J. and continuation of this Courts earlier order dated 9-5-2017.
Issue: Whether Justice C.S. Kaman was guilty of committing contempt of court?
Held: Justice C.S. Kaman committed contempt in the face of the Court. Actions of Justice C.S. Kaman constituted the grossest and gravest actions of contempt of court. He was liable to be punished for his unsavory actions and behavior with imprisonment for 6 months. Justice Kaman shielded himself from actions, bv trumpeting his position as belonging to an under-privileged caste. By assuming the above position, he leveled obnoxious allegations against innumerable Judges of the Supreme Court, Chief Justices of the High Courts and the Judges of the Madras High Court.
None of the allegations leveled, Justice Kaman was not supported by any material. His allegations were malicious and defamatory, and pointedly by name against many of the concerned Judges.
Some of his letters were intentionally endorsed, amongst others, to the President of the Tamil Nadu Advocate Association.
In one of his orders Justice C.S. Kaman restrained the judges from leaving the country. By other orders the Judges of this Bench were convicted and sentenced by him for 5 years imposing individual costs on the convicted Judges.
