Dinakaran transferred to Sikkim High Court

Karnataka High Court Chief Justice P D Dinakaran, who is facing an impeachment (removal) motion in the Rajya Sabha, was on Friday finally transferred to the Sikkim High Court. HT reports.

Karnataka High Court Chief Justice P D Dinakaran, who is facing an impeachment (removal) motion in the Rajya Sabha, was on Friday finally transferred to the Sikkim High Court.

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A law ministry notification put an end to the five-month-old uncertainty on the matter.

"The decision was taken by President Pratibha Patil after consultations with the Chief Justice of India S H Kapadia. Justice Dinakaran has been directed to assume charge as Sikkim High Court Chief Justice on or before August 13," the notification said.

Uttarakhand High Court Chief Justice Jagdish Singh Kheher will replace Justice Dinakaran in the Karnataka High Court, and Sikkim High Court Chief Justice Baren Ghosh will replace Justice Khehar in Uttarakhand.

Justice Dinakaran (60) was recommended for promotion to the Supreme Court by a panel of five seniormost judges in the country (collegium) in August last year.

However, the government was forced to reject the recommendation following an objection by the country's top jurists, who cited allegations of corruption and land-grabbing against him.

Justice Dinakaran has consistently refuted the allegations.

The law ministry returned the file of Justice Dinakaran in December 2009, after the opposition parties decided to serve a notice to impeach him.