Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore (SP)
Bangalore, Oct 8: The general session of Bangalore Advocates Association was convened to consider the present state of its earlier decision that the state High Court Chief Justice, P D Dinakaran, should not conduct the High Court proceedings till the allegations against him are cleared, and also to take a view on a decision earlier taken by the High Court Employees Welfare Association, on Wednseday October 7. The meeting took a decision to urge the Supreme Court's inquiry committee to complete its inquiry into allegations levelled against Chief Justice P D Dinakaran as early as possible. It also through a resolution condemned the stand taken by the High Court Employees Welfare Association against the earlier decision of the Association.
At the same time, the meeting failed to arrive at a concrete solution to the standoff created by the participation of Chief Justice P D Dinakaran in the court proceedings, against the Association's stated stand that he should refrain from doing so till his name is cleared by the inquiry committee. Sources said that anger, exchange of heated words, dissatisfaction, jostling etc., occurred at the meeting.
Even though the Association had taken a decision at its general session on September 17 that the Chief Justice should not participate in the court proceedings till the allegations against him are proved to be false, the CJ had taken part in the proceedings on October 5. The meeting was convened specifically to take a stand on this development. However, as no concrete decision could be arrived at, the Association took a neutral stand on the issue.
At the meeting convened at the hall of the Advocate's Association in the High Court Complex at 1.30 pm on Wednesday, various opinions emerged. While a group of advocates demanded that the lawyers should boycott the proceedings for a day in protest against the disregard shown by the CJ to the Association's decision, some others thought that such a measure would be illegal, as the Association has not so far received any written complaint against the CJ and also as the Supreme Court's investigating committee is still investigating the allegations.
A few members pleaded with the others to remain united, pointing out that systematic efforts are being made to create differences among them. When a few members condemned the statement issued by senior advocate of the Supreme Court, Shanti Bhushan, pointing out the caste affiliation of the CJ, and demanded that a resolution to censure him should be adopted, several others opposed the demand. Finally, the meeting that went on for four hours took a decision to demand for the early completion of the inquiry in connections with the allegations levelled against the CJ.