New Delhi, April 29 (IANS) The Supreme Court Friday stayed the enquiry proceedings by the Judges Inquiry Committee (JIC) against Sikkim High Court Chief Justice P.D. Dinakaran, who is facing charges of misconduct, corruption and land grabbing.

The apex court bench of Justice H.S. Bedi and Justice C.K. Prasad issued notice on the petition filed by Justice Dinakaran and gave the respondents, including senior counsel P.P. Rao, two weeks' time to reply to the petition.

Justice Dinakaran has contended that Rao had signed a memorandum addressed to President Pratibha Patil opposing his elevation as a judge of the Supreme Court and hence Rao's presence in the JIC would prejudice his case.

The court said that Rao's presence in the JIC does not make bias absolute.

However, senior counsel A. Saran appearing for Dinakaran, argued that even the apprehension of bias was enough to hold up the enquiry proceedings.

The court has set the hearing for the vacation bench.

The three-member (JIC) was set up by Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari after a motion seeking the initiation of impeachment proceedings and removal of Justice Dinakaran was moved Dec 14, 2009.

The panel includes Justice Aftab Alam of the apex court, Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court Justice J.S. Khehar and Rao.

The inquiry proceedings are related to the impeachment motion moved in the Rajya Sabha.

Justice Dinakaran's plea before the inquiry committee asking Rao to withdraw from the panel was rejected by it April 24.