Supreme Court asks Justice Dinakaran to go on leave

New Delhi, Apr 3 (ANI): Karnataka High Court Chief Justice P D Dinakaran, who is flooded with the alleged charges of corruption and land encroachment has been asked to go on leave by the Supreme Court collegium headed by Chief Justice of India K.G. Balakrishnan.

It has been reported that the acting Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, Justice Madan B. Lokur, is being appointed Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court in Dinakaran's place, who has not been performing any judicial work since December last.

This decision was taken as the collegium felt the three-member committee headed by Justice V.S. Sirpurkar might take at least a year or so to complete the probe into charges against Justice Dinakaran and till then the High Court could not remain idle without a regular Chief Justice.

Facing an impeachment motion in the Rajya Sabha in December last year, Justice Dinakaran is not hearing any cases till further orders.

According to the notification issued by the High Court Registrar General Budhihal in December last year, Justice Dinakaran will not be presiding over the bench till further orders.

It was not apparent if Justice Dinakaran had himself decided not to discharge judicial duties or was directed to so, but sources claimed that Justice Dinakaran had himself decided not to take up administrative matters and set himself free of judicial duties.

Vice President Hamid Ansari had received the impeachment document in the Rajya Sabha, asking for Justice Dinakaran to be removed.

The 55-page notice had in it all the 12 acts of misbehaviour by Justice Dinakaran under Judges (Enquiry) Act, 1968.

Earlier, the Chief Justice of India had withheld the name of Justice Dinakaran, who was to be elevated to the Supreme Court on the alleged charges of corruption and land encroachment.

The apex court has now decided to consider the appointment only after Justice Dinakaran is cleared of the said charges. (ANI)