Justice PD Dinakaran wants to withdraw resignation after resigning as Chief Justice of Sikkim High Court

NEW DELHI: Facing impeachment for alleged graft, Justice PD Dinakaran, who had resigned as Chief Justice of Sikkim High Court barely a fortnight ago, wants to withdraw his resignation and has written to the President about his move.

In a letter to President Pratibha Patil, Justice Dinakaran has expressed his desire to withdraw his resignation. The letter is being processed by the Department of Justice in the Law Ministry, sources in the government said.

Officials pointed that in Presidential appointments, once the resignation is sent, is accepted automatically and according to some judicial pronouncements and past precedents, cannot be withdrawn. Judges of High Courts and the Supreme Court are appointed by the President.

Soon after Dinakaran's resignation, Justice Sonam Phintso Wangdi was appointed as the acting Chief Justice of the Sikkim High Court.

Facing impeachment on charges of corruption and judicial misconduct, Justice Dinakaran had resigned on July 29, a day ahead of the hearing of the three-member inquiry committee appointed by the Rajya Sabha Chairman to probe charges of land grabbing and acquiring of assets disproportionate to his income.

Justice Dinakaran had failed to get any relief from the Supreme Court after various attempts to stymie the committee proceedings did not succeed.