Above: Justice CS Karnan

Mathews J Nedumpara and AC Philip, advocates for Justice CS Karnan (Retd.) on Saturday (July 29) met union home minister Rajnath Singh at his Akbar Road residence, seeking to expedite the application that the jailed judge of the Calcutta High Court has sent to the new president Ram Nath Kovind for pardon under Section 72 of the Indian constitution (Power of President to grant pardons, etc, and to suspend, remit or commute sentences in certain cases).

Nedumpara has released a press note in this regard, as well as the petition that the judge has sent to the President.

A petition had originally been sent to former President Pranab Mukherjee, on May 13, but they were told that the petition had been forwarded to the home ministry. A fresh petition has now been sent to the new President.

The press note says that Justice Karnan wanted his application to be the very first that the new President has to tackle in office. The press note says that the “representation was handed over to the President by hand, by post and by electronic means, no sooner than His Excellency assumed office.”

The lawyers also said that Rajnath Singh gave them a hearing and assured that the “representation will be considered expeditiously.”

You can read Justice Karnan’s petition here.

—India Legal Bureau