Madras HC Judge’s Wife Moves SC Against Justice Karnan

Spelling more trouble for Calcutta High Court judge Justice CS Karnan, the wife of a judge at Madras High Court has moved the Supreme Court accusing Justice Karnan of harassing her and the family.

Presently, Justice Karnan is facing contempt proceeding from top court for openly accusing judges of corruption.

A seven-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India JS Khehar on Monday deferred the contempt proceeding for March 10, after Justice Karnan failed to appear in person.

"Justice CS Karnan has been making false statements and baseless allegations against Justice S Manikumar, a sitting Madras High Court judge," the counsel appearing for Beula Rajkumari, wife of Justice Manikumar, told another bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra.

Justice Karnan has allegedly been harassing the family by alleging that the applicant (wife) had lodged a complaint against her husband. He also accused the fellow judge of raping a court staff in 2007, the counsel said.

"Justice Karnan started making the grave allegations after several years due to ensuing animosity with J Manikumar, which developed in 2011,” the application said.

A bench of Justice Mishra and Justice DY Chandrachud sent the matter to the Chief Justice of India (CJI) to tag the matter with the contempt case.

"Since the matter is connected, let the seven-judge bench hear this matter," it said.

The bench was hearing the Madras High Court appeal against Justice Karnan for suo motu order granting stay on his transfer order issued by CJI in February last year.

The bench was hearing the Madras High Court appeal against Justice Karnan for suo motu order granting stay on his transfer order issued by CJI in February last year.

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