Minorities panel says Dinakaran victimised

The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) has said the uncertainty surrounding the fate of beleaguered Karnataka High Court Chief Justice PD Dinakaran amounts to victimisation.

The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) has said the uncertainty surrounding the fate of beleaguered Karnataka High Court Chief Justice PD Dinakaran amounts to victimisation.

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The national watchdog for protection of the rights of minorities has hinted the treatment given to Justice Dinakaran has angered the Christian community in Karnataka.

In a letter to law minister M Veerappa Moily, NCM vice-chairman HT Sangliana has said though no corruption charge has been proved against Dinakaran, he has been targeted just on the basis of media reports.

"The Justice Dinakaran case should be decided quickly; if he is found guilty of corruption charges, suspend or terminate him, but without any probe how can he be treated like this?" Sangliana said.

"A number of lawyers from Bangalore have met me and told me that the charges are false, but I told them it is for a probe to decide that. The question is how long will the process take, nobody knows," he said.

"The minorities, particularly Christians, are not satisfied at the turn of events," he said.

The NCM is the second organisation to speak in favour of Justice Dinakaran, a Dalit Christian. The National Commission for Scheduled Castes chief, Buta Singh, had in October last year said the judge was being targeted as he is a Dalit.

Justice Dinakaran continues to be in the Karnataka HC, but he is not hearing any cases since December last year.