Supreme Court allows Justice Karnan to argue his transfer case

A bench of Justices Arun Mishra and Amitava Roy also allowed the application for discharge of Justice Karnan’s advocate S Gowthaman after taking note of the judge’s December 21, 2016, letter written to Supreme Court Registry seeking permission to argue his own case. “No counter affidavit has been filed on behalf of Justice Karnan. 

However, a communication dated December 21, 2016 has been received from Justice Karnan intimating that he has decided to appear in person in this case and has requested S Gowthaman, Advocate-on-Record, who was appearing on his behalf, to withdraw his appearance. “Interim application, filed by Gowthaman, for discharge as the counsel for Justice Karnan is, accordingly, allowed,” the bench said in its order. 

Meanwhile, the Registrar General of the Madras High Court through senior counsel K K Venugopal, pointed out that 12 files of the High Court were still with Justice Karnan, which are required to be returned. He also submitted that the government accommodation which had been allotted to Justice  Karnan at Chennai, has not been vacated as yet.