CJI to take a call on Dinakaran’s elevation to SC

NEW DELHI: With higher judiciary coming under attack over the proposed elevation of Karnataka chief justice P D Dinakaran to the Supreme Court, Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan has convened a meeting of the court���s collegium to discuss charges of corruption against the judge.

Although Mr Dinakaran has denied the allegations of amassing wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income, his elevation has become difficult on account of intense scrutiny and there is now pressure on the SC to reconsider its decision. Senior lawyers had demanded action against Mr Dinakaran and also police investigation into the allegations of acquiring huge assets as well as possessing land beyond the ceiling limit in Tamil Nadu.

While speaking to a TV channel, former Union minister and civil rights activist Shanti Bhushan said that ���Dinakaran has acquired 700 acres of land... There are also various allegations of corruption against him.��� The senior advocate also urged the Chief Justice of India to review his appointment to the Supreme Court collegium. ���We have written to the CJI to review his appointment to the Supreme Court collegium. Such a person who has a high reputation for corruption should not have been appointed,��� he said. ���I am surprised why he (CJI) is insisting on the appointment of chief justice Dinakaran. The only reason I am seeing is that he (Dinakaran) is a Dalit too,��� Mr Shanti Bhushan added.

Eminent Jurists like Ram Jethmalani, Fali S Nariman and Anil Diwan have also written to President Pratibha Patil and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, reiterating the demand.

The Supreme Court collegium, headed by CJI Balakrishnan and having Justices B N Agarwal, H S Kapadia, Tarun Chatterjee and Altamas Kabir as members, had recommended the names of five chief justices of various high courts for their appointment as Supreme Court judges.

After receiving letter on September 8, CJI Balakrishnan had summoned Justice Dinakaran on September 11, asking him to explain the allegations made against him in the letter. Justice Dinakaran denied all the allegations.