'Frustration led to imbalance,' Justice Karnan sends apologetic letter to CJI

New Delhi: Within a week of meeting the Chief Justice of India T.S. Thakur in Delhi, Justice C.S. Karnan of the Madras High Court sent a letter to him on Tuesday in an apologetic tone that his letter dated February 15 staying the transfer order ‘suo motu’ was done out of frustration resulting in his loss of mental balance.

A bench of Justices J.S. Khehar and Ms R. Banumathi saved the embarrassment caused to the CJI by staying the judicial order passed by Justice Karnan. On Tuesday Justice Karnan addressed letters to the CJI Thakur and Justices Khehar and Banumathi repenting for what he did on February 15.

Justice Karnan said, “On February 15, I had sent an erroneous order due to my mental frustration resulting in loss of mental balance, since I was disturbed through various incidents. My disturbances can be summarised in two instances. For example, in one instance, a brother judge had intentionally kicked me and then apologised. This took place at a marriage reception at Anna Arivalaya Marriage hall, Teynampet (when he went on the basis of an invitation to the judiciary).”

Justice Karnan said, “Now the same brother judge player another prank by untying the arm chair reservation slip of my chair, placing it on the ground and trampling it with his feet. The same was noticed by a brother and a sister judge who silently ridiculed me. I sent an official complaint to the SC/ST Commission chairman and other higher dignitaries. Both the print and electronic media reported the incident and urged me to reveal the names of the judges, but I refused to do so only to uphold the sanctity of the judiciary and also to maintain communal harmony. Now I am constrained to point out these past unfortunate happenings only because I maintain a very social outlook in the mainstream of society and to my allegiance to the high reputation of our prestigious court. He said, “Hereinafter I will continue to foster a harmonious attitude to one and all and will appreciate your (CJI’s) kind reciprocation.”  He sent copies of this letter to the Prime Minister, President of India, Union Law Minister and Congress leader Sonia Gandhi.