Shift to Sikkim HC is certain
The transfer of Chief Justice of Karnataka high court P.D. Dinakaran, who is facing impeachment proceedings in Parliament following allegations of land grabbing and corruption, to the Sikkim high court now appears certain.
Supreme Court Collegium has reiterated its stand to transfer Justice Dinakaran to Sikkim. Sources stated that the decision was taken at a meeting of the Collegium held recently.
“The law and justice ministry has forwarded the Collegium’s recommendations to the Prime Minister’s Office. A decision on this issue will now be taken by the PMO,” sources stated. As per the laid down procedure, if the Collegium sticks to its recommendation a second time, the government accepts it in accordance with existing conventions. The charges against Justice Dinakaran also include acquiring and possessing agricultural holdings beyond the ceiling limit. An allegation that has been refuted by Justice Dinakaran. The move comes after reservations expressed by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh over frequent transfers of high court Chief Justices.
The Prime Minister had made these reservations in a letter to the CJI, while returning the file relating to transfers back to the Collegium with a request to reconsider its decision.
The previous Collegium, headed by former Chief Justice of India K.G. Balakrishnan, had recommended transferring Justice Dinakaran to the Sikkim high court. In August last year, the collegium had recommended Justice Dinakaran for promotion to the SC. However, after allegations of corruption and land grabbing surfaced and several top jurists objected to his name, the government returned the recommendation to the collegium.
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