Breaking: Justice Karnan’s Petition For Recall Of Contempt Order Not Maintainable: SC Registry [Read Order]

Supreme Court Registry by its order dated 15^th May 2017 held that the Petition filed by Justice Karnan  against the 7 Judge Constitution Bench order convicting and sentencing Justice Karnan for Contempt of Court, is not maintainable.

The Registry has sent a communication to Justice Karnan’s lawyer Mathew Nedumpara that the petition is not maintainable and does not show any reasonable cause to be received for registration and that it is refused to be registered.

The communication by the Assistant Registrar had also annexed an order passed by the Registrar (Judicial) of the Supreme Court, asserting the same, and stating, “It is thus manifestly clear from the averments made in the petition that the petitioner intends to impugn and challenge the judicial orders passed by this Hon’ble Court on 9^th May, 2017 in the Suo Motu Contempt Petition (C) No. 1 of 2017. The proceedings therein were decided on merits and after due consideration it was held that Shri Justice C.S. Karnan had committed contempt of the gravest nature, resulting in finding of guilt. As a sequel the petitioner also stands convicted and sentenced to an imprisonment for six months. The said findings have since attained finality.”

Justice Karnan had challenged the constitutional validity of the Contempt of Court Act, 1971 under Article 32 of the Constitution of India, as well as placed an application of recall of the orders against him. This was in aftermath of an order passed on May 9, wherein the 7 Judge SC Bench had sentenced Justice Karnan to 6 months in jail after finding him guilty of contempt of Court.

Will Move Delhi High Court: Nedumpara

As per a press release issued by Justice Karnan’s lawyer, Advocate Nedumpara, Justice Karnan is now planning to institute a Writ Petition before the High Court of Delhi under Article 226 of the Constitution of India.

The release states that the decision to approach the High Court was taken after the Advocate was informed by the Assistant Registrar of the Supreme Court that the Petition filed by Justice Karnan has been found to be “not maintainable”, and that it does not show any reasonable cause to be received for registration.

As per the Press Release, Justice Karnan would have preferred to challenge the order of the Registrar before the Supreme Court itself by way of a petition under Article 32 for violation of Fundamental Rights. He has, however, decided to approach the High Court, “considering the difficulty in getting such a petition registered as no Advocate-On-Record would be forthcoming to be on record” on his behalf. Before the High Court, he plans to challenge the Registrar’s order, as well as Order XV Rule 5 of the Supreme Court Rules, 2013, invoking which the Registrar (Judicial) has declined registration of his Writ Petition.

“Justice Karnan has, in anticipation of the order at the hands of the Registrar (Judicial), already kept prepared draft of the Writ Petition; so too of the Chamber Appeal.  The draft being ready, the Writ Petition will be instituted as expeditiously as it could be,” the Press Release thereafter states.

Read the Order here.