NEW DELHI: Justice C S Karnan of the Madras High Court has admitted that he had issued an “erroneous” order due to his “mental frustration resulting in the loss of his mental balance”, after courting controversy by staying the CJI's order asking for his transfer to Calcutta High Court.
In a letter to the Chief Justice of India and two Supreme Court judges, Justice Karnan stated that he was “disturbed” due to various incidents where he was “ridiculed” by some judges. He also said that “hereafter, I will continue to foster a harmonious attitude to one and all, and will appreciate your kind reciprocation and oblige.” Karnan gave two instances of “harassment and ridicule” against him to make his point and said he had sent a complaint to the chairman of National Commission of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and other high dignitaries, three years ago. He stated that the media had reported the incident and “urged me to reveal the names of the judges who indulged in such ugly pranks but I refused to do so only to uphold the sanctity of the judiciary and also maintain communal harmony.”
Justice Karnan had stayed his transfer order on February 15, which made the apex court ask the Chief Justice of Madras High Court to not assign any judicial work to him. It also suspended Justice Karnan's order and made it clear that all administrative and judicial orders passed by him after the issuance of proposal of his transfer from Madras high court to Calcutta high court shall remain stayed till further orders.
