MPs take first step to impeach Dinakaran

Cutting across party lines, 76 opposition MPs on Monday served a notice to initiate impeachment proceedings against Justice PD Dinakaran in the Rajya Sabha, reports Nagendar Sharma.

Cutting across party lines, 76 opposition MPs on Monday served a notice to initiate impeachment proceedings against Justice PD Dinakaran in the Rajya Sabha.

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The next step will be a probe by a committee of three judges, after the Rajya Sabha chairman admits the motion. If the motion is carried in both Houses by a two-thirds majority, Dinakaran will be sacked.

The 60-page impeachment motion against the Karnataka High Court chief justice, facing allegations of corruption and land grabbing, followed the Centre’s refusal to promote him to the Supreme Court last week.

The MPs, from 11 political parties, levelled 12 allegations against Dinakaran, including possession of disproportionate assets, illegal encroachments and misuse of position.

HT was the first to report top jurists’ objection to the proposal to promote Dinakaran to the apex court, and also the opposition’s move to impeach him.

Dinakaran, who has consistently denied the allegations, refused to comment. Led by leader of the opposition Arun Jaitley and CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury, a delegation of MPs handed the motion to Rajya Sabha chairman Hamid Ansari.

“Justice Dinakaran should not continue,” Jaitley said. “We’re following the constitutional procedure.”

The government ducked the issue. “We do not discuss the judges issue in public,” said Law Minister M Veerappa Moily.

The ruling UPA hinted it might not back the move. No judge has ever been impeached in India.