Embattled Calcutta High Court judge Justice CS Karnan on Thursday refused to undergo mental health check-up test by a medical team constituted as per Supreme Court order, saying he is mentally fit. He also rejected the SC order as a “mad order” passed by “mad judges”.
Justice Karnan, who is on a warpath with the apex court in connection with a contempt case he is facing, also told the doctors that for holding a medical examination with regard to a person’s mental health, the guardian’s consent was required and he had none in Kolkata.
A four-member team from Calcutta Pavlov Hospital, a State-run mental health hospital, accompanied by around 20 policemen visited his residence to implement the court order but was sent back after remaining there for about two hours.
The Supreme Court had on May 1 ordered medical examination of Karnan by a board of doctors to be set up by a Government hospital in Kolkata to evaluate his mental health with police support.
The order was given after the defiant judge failed to appear in the apex court which took note of the “tenor” of his press briefings and orders.
“I declined to avail the medical treatment since I am absolutely normal and with a stable mind,” Karnan gave in writing to the doctors after refusing to undergo a medical check-up.
“Further, it is my strong view that the Supreme Court order amounts to an insult and harassment to a Dalit Judge (myself),” he said in a communication addressed to the chairman of the medical board from Calcutta Pavlov Hospital.
A seven-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice JS Khehar, on May 1 had also directed the Director-General of Police of West Bengal to form a team of police officers which could assist the medical board in carrying out the medical examination of the High Court judge.
The medical report of Justice Karnan has to be submitted “on or before May 8” and the apex court would take up the contempt plea, initiated suo motu (on its own), for hearing a day after, it said.
The apex court has taken suo motu (on its own) cognisance of various letters written by Justice Karnan against judges of the Madras High Court and the Supreme Court and restrained him from exercising administrative and Judicial power from February 8.
Justice Karnan appeared before the Supreme Court on March 31 in connection with the contempt proceeding, becoming the first high court judge to do so in the history of Indian Judiciary.