Senior advocate and Rajya Sabha member Ram Jethmalani has written to Calcutta High Court judge, Justice C.S. Karnan, against whom bailable warrants were issued by a Bench of the Supreme Court, advising him not to destroy the judiciary, and to end his flurry of allegations and apologise.
Justice Karnan was issued the warrants by a Bench of seven senior-most judges led by Chief Justice of India J.S. Khehar in a suo motu contempt case for remarks denigrating the judicial institution and fellow judges.
The Supreme Court directed the Director-General of Police, West Bengal, to personally serve the warrant on the judge and secure his presence before it on March 31.
However, Justice Karnan had retaliated, saying he was targeted because of his Dalit identity. He termed the contempt proceedings against him “unconstitutional”.
Mr. Jethmalani’s letter, dated March 11, is the first such opinion from a senior member of the Bar, also directly addressing the judge. The signed letter, written on the official letterhead as an MP, contained sharp comments against Justice Karnan. The Hindu contacted Mr. Jethmalani’s office to confirm the authenticity of the letter, which has been circulating on social media.
‘The only protection’
Mr. Jethmalani wrote that he was advising Justice Karnan as a “senior member of the Bar and living in the departure lounge of God’s airport.”
He asked the judge to withdraw “every word that you have uttered and humbly pray for pardon…”
“In this corruption-dominated country, our judiciary is the only protection. Do not destroy it or even weaken it,” Mr. Jethmalani said.
