**The ****The Unforgettable** Story of Justice Karnan: A Bold Voice in the Indian Judiciary**

**1. Introduction:** A Judge Like No Other
Justice Chinnaswamy Swaminathan Karnan is a name that shook the Indian judicial system. Known as the first Dalit judge in the Madras High Court, Justice Karnan became famous not only for his position but also for his bold actions. His story took a dramatic turn in 2017 when he was jailed for contempt of court, becoming the first sitting judge in India to face such punishment. But behind this punishment was a deeper issue—his open allegations of corruption within the judiciary.

2. The Bold Letter to the Prime Minister
In 2017, Justice Karnan wrote a letter to the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi. In this letter, he accused 20 judges of being involved in corruption. This was a historic moment. Never before had a sitting judge accused fellow judges in such a direct and public way. Justice Karnan demanded an investigation into these judges. However, the central government chose not to make this letter public. This raised many questions among the people—was the government trying to hide something?

3. Contempt Charges and a Legal Battle
The Supreme Court of India was quick to react. They charged Justice Karnan with contempt of court. Contempt of court means disrespecting or going against the authority of the court. While Justice Karnan was still a sitting judge, the Supreme Court felt that his actions had harmed the reputation of the judiciary. This led to a legal battle between Justice Karnan and the top court of the country.

Justice Karnan did not stay silent. In response, he did something even more shocking—he passed an order sentencing the Chief Justice of India and other senior judges to five years of rigorous imprisonment. While many saw this as an act of defiance, others began to wonder—was he trying to tell the truth about something bigger?

4. Jail Term and Refusal to Apologise
The Supreme Court gave Justice Karnan a choice: either apologize or serve six months in jail. Justice Karnan refused to apologize. He stood by his words and actions. As a result, he was sent to jail for six months. He completed his term and walked out of jail wearing a soot-covered boot—a symbol of the path he had walked alone.

This moment became a powerful image: a judge who chose jail over apology, sticking to his beliefs till the end. People began to look at his case in a new light. Was he punished for breaking the rules, or was he punished for trying to expose corruption?

5. Public Opinion: Madman or Whistleblower?
At the time of his arrest and jail term, many people and media outlets said that Justice Karnan was mentally unstable. His actions were described as irrational and extreme. But as time passed, and reports of large amounts of black money being found in the homes of other judges came out, public opinion began to shift.

Now, people started asking important questions. Was Justice Karnan really mad, or was he a whistleblower trying to clean the system? His boldness made him a unique figure in Indian judicial history. Even if people didn’t agree with his methods, many began to appreciate his courage.

6. Conclusion: Justice Karnan’s Lasting Impact
The story of Justice Karnan is one of courage, controversy, and questions. He broke the silence about corruption in the judiciary, even though it cost him his career and freedom. Whether people see him as a hero or a rebel, no one can ignore the impact he made.

Today, when people talk about judicial reform and the need for transparency, Justice Karnan’s name comes up again and again. His story reminds us that change often begins with one brave voice—no matter how loud the opposition is.

His return from jail was not the end, but perhaps the beginning of more people questioning the powerful and asking for honesty from those in charge of justice.

The man in soot-boots, walking out of jail, is Justice Karnan — Chinnaswamy Swaminathan Karnan.

He’s making his return after serving a 6-month jail term for contempt of court.

He was a judge of the Madras High Court — the 1st Dalit judge there. He also holds the distinction of being the first sitting judge to be jailed for contempt of court.

In 2017, he wrote a letter to PM Narendra Modi, alleging corruption in regard to 20 judges. For the 1st time in history, a sitting judge accused fellow judges of corruption.

The central government, however, refused to make the letter public.

The Supreme Court charged Justice Karnan with contempt of court.

Karnan, in turn, sentenced the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court & some other judges to 5 years of rigorous imprisonment.

In the end, the Supreme Court prevailed in this showdown.

The Supreme Court order said, Apologize or serve 6 months RI in the cooler.

Karnan REFUSED TO APOLOGIZE and served his 6-month jail term.

At that time, those opposed to Karnan said he was mentally unstable. But now, after crores of black money were discovered in a judge’s house, it seems that Karnan was speaking the truth.