Former High Court judge C.S. Karnan passes away in Chennai at 71

C.S. Karnan, the controversial former High Court judge who was jailed in 2017 for criminal contempt of court, died in Chennai on Friday at the age of 71. He breathed his last at a private hospital. Born on June 12, 1955, in Karnatham village of Cuddalore district, Karnan enrolled as an advocate in April 1984. He practised in the Madras High Court and city courts before his elevation as a judge of the Madras High Court in 2009. During his judicial career, he faced multiple controversies, including public confrontations with fellow judges and allegations of caste discrimination.

Legal Battles

In March 2016, Karnan was transferred to the Calcutta High Court. The Supreme Court initiated contempt proceedings against him in 2017 after he levelled charges against other judges. In May 2017, he passed an order sentencing the then Chief Justice of India and seven other Supreme Court judges to five years of rigorous imprisonment. A seven-judge Supreme Court bench subsequently found him guilty of criminal contempt and sentenced him to six months in jail. He absconded before police could execute the order, but was arrested in Coimbatore in June 2017 after attaining superannuation.

Later Years

Following his retirement and release, Karnan faced about ten criminal cases for circulating videos on social media that abused judges, lawyers, and court staff. He was arrested again by Tamil Nadu police in December 2020 and granted bail in March 2021 after tendering an unconditional apology. He also launched a political party named the Anti Corruption Dynamic Party in 2018 and contested elections unsuccessfully.

Context

C.S. Karnan remains the only sitting High Court judge in Indian judicial history to be sentenced to a term of imprisonment for contempt of court by the Supreme Court. His tenure highlighted intense debates around judicial accountability, the collegium system of appointments, and institutional conduct.