Dinakaran’s elevation: CJI denies dropping name

Karnataka High Court Chief Justice P D Dinakaran's elevation to the Supreme Court has been kept in abeyance in view of the impeachment proceedings against him in the Rajya Sabha over land grabbing allegations, Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan said.

The Chief Justice of India (CJI) K.G. Balakrishnan on Friday denied media reports that the Supreme Court collegium had dropped Karnataka High Court Chief Justice P.D. Dinakaran’s name for elevation.

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“We have kept Justice Dinakaran’s name in abeyance in view of impeachment proceeding initiated against him in the Rajya Sabha,” the CJI told reporters.

The collegium led by CJI met Thursday evening and decided to put its recommendation on hold. When the CJI was asked whether Justice Dinakaran will be kept out of work, he said: “I have no disciplinary power over the judges and CJ’s of HC.” He was non-committal over transferring him out of Karnataka. But, the CJI said: “I have power to transfer Chief Justices of HC.”

The Law Ministry has already rejected the August 27 recommendation of collegium elevating Dinakaran to the SC. The ministry had asked the collegium to reconsider the decision.