Karnan’s lawyer says fresh plea sent to President

New Delhi: A fresh representation has been made to the President on behalf of Calcutta high court judge C.S. Karnan, seeking suspension of the Supreme Court order sentencing him to six-month imprisonment for contempt of court, a lawyer representing him has said.

Advocate Mathews J. Nedumpara said that he, along with other counsel representing the high court judge and his son C.S. Sugan, met Ashok Mehta, the secretary to the President, and handed over an application for suspension of the sentence under Article 72 of the Constitution. He said they have sought personal audience for Justice Karnan with the President.

The lawyers took the ground in the application that Justice Karnan would be unable to exercise any remedy if he was arrested.

“Therefore, an application seeking the President’s intervention under Article 72 has been made,” Mr Nedumpara said. Article 72 states the President shall have the power to grant pardons, reprieves, respites or remissions of punishment or to suspend, remit or commute the sentence of any convict.