Now Justice Karnan 'sentences' CJI, seven other SC judges to five years jail

Kolkata: Giving a fresh twist to his three and a half month stand-off with the Supreme Court, Calcutta High Court Justice CS Karnan on Monday "sentenced" Chief Justice of India Jagdish Singh Khehar and seven other apex court judges to five year rigorous imprisonment.

Justice Karnan, who is facing contempt charges for degrading the judiciary and making allegations of corruption against several Supreme Court judges, held the eight judges guilty of harassing a "Dalit Judge" (Justice Karnan), with a "common intention".

The 12-page "order" said the accused have "committed" an offence "punishable under the SC/ST Atrocities Act of 1989 and amended Act of 2015".

However, the Supreme Court has already restrained Justice Karnan from discharging any judicial and administrative functions and directed all authorities and tribunals not to take cognisance of any "purported" order passed by him.

The other judges named in the "order" are Justice Dipak Misra, Justice J Chelameswar, Justice Ranjan Gogoi, Justice Madan B Lokur, Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose, Justice Kurian Joseph and Justice R. Banumathi.

While seven of the judges were members of the bench that initiated suo motu contempt proceedings against Justice Karnan, Justice Banumathi along with the Chief Justice Khehar had restrained him from discharging any judicial and administrative functions.