http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/article2595542.eceTamil Nadu
CHENNAI, November 3, 2011
Facing harassment since 2009, says Judge
Special Correspondent
A Judge of the Madras High Court, who has complained to the National
Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) that he had been "harassed" by
some brother Judges as he was a Dalit, on Thursday said some former
Judges of the court also faced similar problems during their tenure.
Justice C.S. Karnan had filed a complaint with the NCSC that he was
being "harassed" and "victimised" by other Judges.
Talking to newspersons here on Thursday, he said such harassment was
going on since 2009 when he became a Judge. With a view to maintaining
the dignity of the court, he was putting up with the problems. Asked
whether he had made a complaint to the High Court Chief Justice about
his grievance, he replied there was no necessity to give a complaint
to the Chief Justice. The NCSC, whose Chairman was under the
President, was an independent body which looked into the problems
faced by members of Scheduled Castes. It was there to protect them and
it was the competent/appropriate authority.
Answering a volley of questions, he said he had not given the names of
the Judges who humiliated him in the complaint. He faced such
experience at functions, high tea, lunch, Full Court meetings and
wherever Judges assembled. He made it clear that it was not all Judges
who meted out such a treatment.
To a question, he said "I am a Judge with self-respect. So I am facing
the difficulties." He said the change of portfolio for him attracted
negative comments against him. That had nothing to do with the
complaint. Some of the Judges try to dominate Dalit Judges. In his
case, such an attempt failed.
Mr. Justice Karnan said he would continue to carry on with his duties
as a Judge. He said Judges should be broad-minded and magnanimous.
His request to the Commission was to conduct an enquiry and he was
prepared to face an open enquiry.
Mr. Justice Karnan met Chief Justice, M.Y. Eqbal this morning. He said
nothing about the issue. In a statement titled "My submission to the
public," the Judge said he had "levelled a case against certain
Honourable brothers and sister judges of the Madras High Court" before
the NCSC against "certain atrocities towards me: due to my being a
Dalit judge." It was his responsibility to establish and vindicate his
complaint at the enquiry and exonerate himself as a Judge. He
requested the public to abstain from any speculation and comments
until the enquiry was over in order to maintain the high dignity of
the High Court.
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