Panel probing charges against Dinakaran to record evidence

A Rajya Sabha-appointed committee probing the allegations of misconduct and corruption against Sikkim High Court Chief Justice P D Dinakaran will commence recording of evidence from today onwards.

A Rajya Sabha-appointed committee probing the allegations of misconduct and corruption against Sikkim High Court Chief Justice P D Dinakaran will commence recording of evidence from Friday onwards.

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A decision in this regard was taken after two-and-half hours of hearing by a three-member panel comprising apex court judge Aftab Alam, Karnataka High Court Chief Justice J S Khehar and senior advocate P P Rao.

"Recording of the evidence and its examination will start on Friday," said the sources closely associated with proceedings of the panel appointed by Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari.

The proceedings are being held in-camera.

Meamwhile, an application was moved by some journalists seeking a direction for making public the hearing of the committee.

Lawyers appearing on behalf of Dinakaran said they would respond to the application and therefore the panel has kept it under consideration.

Dinakaran has also moved the Supreme seeking stay of the proceedings before the panel accusing Rao of being biased.

The panel had on April 24 rejected Dinakaran's plea against Rao, saying the objection should have been raised at the start of the proceedings. Rao did not participate in the meeting when this application was discussed.

Charges against Justice Dinakaran, who is due to retire on May 9, 2012, were levelled when he was Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court. He was subsequently transferred to the Sikkim High Court.

The panel was appointed after the Rajya Sabha initiated impeachment motion against Dinakaran. It had asked Dinakaran to respond to the 16 charges framed against him.

The Committee has been hearing the charges of alleged land grabbing and possession of wealth disproportionate to known sources of his income.