Calcutta High Court judge Justice CS Karnan who faces an arrest warrant from the Supreme Court got a mouthful from senior advocate Ram Jethmalani, who compared the judge’s conduct to that of a “lunatic” and advised him to beg pardon from the top court for his “stupid” action.
The unsolicited advice from the ace criminal lawyer came to the judge came by way of an open letter issued by Jethmalani on March 11, a day after the top court ordered arrest warrants to be served on the sitting judge. A seven-judge apex Bench directed the Director General of Police of Kolkata to serve the summons on the judge and bring him to Court on March 31, to answer contempt charges for his scurrilous charges against sitting judges of the High Courts and Supreme Court.
Wondering if the judge had lost his mind to call a Press conference on the day he was issued arrest warrant and further directing Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to enquire if criminal cases be lodged against the seven Supreme Court judges for targeting him being a Dalit judge, Jethmalani’s letter took an interesting dig on the judge. “Your behavior is that of a lunatic and some day that may be the only defence available to you though with no bright chance of success.”
He advised the judge to withdraw every word spoken against the judges and “humbly” pray for pardon from the top court for every stupid action he indulged in so far.
Not agreeing with the judge’s charge that he is being singled out for belonging to the Scheduled Caste community, Jethmalani being a Rajya Sabha MP too, reminded the judge, “As a lawyer I have worked all my life for the backward classes and I have great concern and sympathy for them. But you are out to cause the greatest damage to their interests.”
On the charge of corruption leveled by Karnan against several judges of the High Courts, Jethmalani had this to say: “In this corruption-dominated country, our judiciary is the only protection. Do not destroy it or even weaken it.”
As a senior lawyer and as someone who has gained vast experience dealing with judges over the years, Jethmalani said, “I am convinced you have lost your mind…if you do not know the enormity of your madness do meet me. I might put some sense in your head.”