India, Nov. 13 -- Former Madras High Court judge CS Karnan, the first sitting high court judge to be sentenced to imprisonment for contempt of court, died on Friday morning at a private hospital here following age-related health complications. He was 71.

Justice Karnan, who had been recently admitted to hospital, died after failing to respond to treatment, the hospital authorities said.

Karnan practised as a lawyer before being appointed additional judge of the Madras High Court in March 2009, and was elevated to permanent judge in March 2011. Within months, Karnan's tenure in the judiciary became mired in bitter public clashes with fellow judges and the judicial leadership. In November 2011, he accused fellow judges of harassing him be...