SC stays pre-impeachment probe by RS panel against Dinakaran

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court today stayed the pre-impeachment probe by a Rajya Sabha-appointed panel into allegations of judicial misconduct and corruption against Sikkim High Court Chief Justice P D Dinakaran.

The apex court passed the order on a plea by Justice Dinakaran, expressing apprehension of biased probe against him by the three-member panel, comprising Justice Aftab Alam of the apex court, Karnataka High Court Chief Justice J S Khehar and senior advocate P P Rao.

Senior advocate Amrendra Saran, appearing for the 61-year-old judge, pleaded before the apex court bench of justices H S Bedi and C K Prasad that Rao was part of a delegation of lawyers, which had met the erstwhile Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan in 2009 to oppose his elevation to the Supreme Court.

Inclusion of advocate Rao in the probe-panel indicates the possibility of bias in probe against the judge, he said.

The bench after hearing his contentions, stayed the panel's proceedings and issued notices to it, its chairman Justice Aftab Alam and advocate Rao.