Retired Calcutta High Court judge Justice C.S. Karnan has lodged a complaint with the West Bengal DGP against retired chief justice of Calcutta High Court, Justice Jyotirmoy Bhattacharjya, requesting initiation of criminal proceedings against him under SC/ST Atrocities Act.
A few days before his retirement, Justice Bhattacharya issued an administrative order, asking Justice Karnan to vacate his flat in Kolkata—given to him when he was the judge in the high court—if he wants to avail his pension and other pending financial dues after his retirement last year
Justice Karnan had earlier written to Calcutta High Court's registrar general, asking why his pension was not cleared although it was cleared by the law ministry after the approval from the President of India.
The registrar general quoted the administrative order of the chief justice of Calcutta High Court to clarify why the dues were not cleared.
In his complaint to the DGP, dated on September 21, Justice Karnan also included the registrar general as the 'former party'. He mentioned Justice Bhattacharya as prime accused.
"The accused (retired chief justice) wantonly and deliberately withheld my pension benefits," said Justice Karnan in his complaint.
He also accused the retired judge of taking the decision to withhold his pension benefits at the behest of some “judge in the Supreme Court” who accused Justice Karnan of being corrupt.
The retired judge called the decision to withhold his pension “caste discrimination” and asked the police to register a criminal case against the accused. "I humbly request you to register a criminal case against the above mentioned main accused under the SC/ST Atrocities Act and proceed with the same in accordance with the law and oblige," Justice Karnan said in the complaint.
The office of the director general of police said they are yet to receive any complaint regarding this.
When contacted, Justice Karnan said he decided to file a criminal complaint as he had been harassed by the former chief justice of Calcutta High Court for no reason.
"The mater about vacating my old house is between me and the landlord. Neither West Bengal government nor Calcutta High Court owns the property which I use in Kolkata's Rajarhat. I would like to settle the mater with the Rosedale authorities and the court has no business regarding that. I am ready to purchase or pay rent for the flat I stay during my visit in Kolkata," Karnan told THE WEEK.
Justice Jyotirmoy Bhattacharjee, who retired on last Monday, was not available for comment.
Justice Karnan was sentenced to six months jail last year following his attacks on the judges of Madras High Court and the Supreme Court.
