Ex-Dalit judge Karnan, who called out court caste bias, dies at 71

Chennai: Former Madras and Calcutta High Court judge Justice CS Karnan passed away in Chennai on Friday morning, November 13, at the age of 71. He had recently been admitted to the hospital due to health issues and died after his body stopped responding to medical treatment.

As a Dalit judge in a court system with very few people from marginalised communities, Karnan was known for openly calling out corruption and caste discrimination within the judiciary. While his actions often sparked debate, his supporters viewed his efforts as a vital stand for fair treatment, respect, and equal representation for marginalised groups in the legal system.

He also made history as the first active High Court judge in India to receive a prison sentence for contempt of court.

In November 2011, Karnan claimed that other judges were harassing him because he belonged to the Dalit community. He later made the same complaint against the Chief Justice at the time, Sanjay Kishan Kaul.

In 2014, he interrupted an ongoing court session by walking in and publicly opposing the list of candidates chosen to become High Court judges.

In March 2016, the Supreme Court ordered his transfer to the Calcutta High Court. However, he caused a major controversy by issuing an order himself to block his own transfer.

In January 2017, Karnan sent a letter to the Prime Minister accusing 20 active and retired judges of corruption. In response, the Supreme Court stepped in on its own and started legal action against him for disrespecting the court. While this case was ongoing, Karnan issued his own orders attempting to fine and jail Supreme Court judges.

On May 9, 2017, a panel of seven judges, led by Chief Justice JS Khehar, found him guilty of disrespecting the court and sentenced him to six months in prison, stating that his actions severely disrupted the justice system.

Karnan refused to turn himself in after the ruling and officially retired on June 12, 2017, while still hiding from the police. Authorities eventually caught him in Coimbatore, and he served his time at Kolkata’s Presidency Jail before being freed in December 2017.

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