Law Ministry forwards to PMO the CJI order on transfer of judge C S Karnan

NEW DELHI: The Law Ministry has forwarded the order of the Chief Justice of India, transferring Justice C S Karnan from the Madras High Court to the Calcutta High Court, to the Prime Minister's Office for "further action".

Earlier this week, Justice Karnan had courted controversy by "staying" CJI's order transferring him to the Calcutta High Court, which was suspended by the Supreme Court, with a direction that he will not be assigned any judicial work.

Sources in the government said the file relating to his transfer was processed by the Law Ministry a couple of days ago and sent to the Prime Minister's Office for "further action".

As per the established procedure, the Law Ministry sends recommendations of transfer and elevation of judges to the PMO which, in turn sends it to the President for a final order.

On Monday, an apex court bench had suspended Justice Karnan's "staying" CJI's order transferring him to the Calcutta High Court.

Known for his penchant for courting controversies, Justice Karnan had sent a copy of the judicial order to the President, the Prime Minister, the Law Minister and to other political leaders, including Sonia Gandhi, Ram Vilas Paswan and Mayawati, as well as National Commissions for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.