The Hindu

New Delhi, Apr 3: The Supreme Court collegium headed by Chief Justice of India K.G. Balakrishnan has advised Karnataka High Court Chief Justice P.D. Dinakaran to go on leave. Since December last, Justice Dinakaran has not been performing judicial work. In his place, the acting Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, Justice Madan B. Lokur, is being appointed Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court.

According to highly placed sources, the decision to advise Justice Dinakaran to go on leave was taken by the collegium on Thursday, following representations that in the absence of the Chief Justice at the helm of affairs, judicial work in Karnataka suffered to a great extent.

Justice Madan B Lokur, Justice P D Dinakaran

It was felt that the three-member committee headed by Justice V.S. Sirpurkar might take at least a year or so to complete the probe into charges against Justice Dinakaran and till then the High Court could not remain idle without a regular Chief Justice.

After Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari admitted a motion seeking his removal on charges of corruption, land-grab and abuse of judicial office, Justice Dinakaran has not been performing judicial functions.

It all started in August 2009 with the collegium recommending the elevation of Justice Dinakaran as Supreme Court judge along with four others. The Chennai-based Forum for Judicial Accountability, in September 2009, furnished a list of charges against Justice Dinakaran, including allegations of land encroachment at Kaverirajapuram in Tamil Nadu.

After this allegation was confirmed by the Tiruvallur Collector in two reports, the collegium dropped Justice Dinakaran's name for elevation. Thereafter on a complaint from 76 members of Parliament, the Rajya Sabha Chairman admitted a motion for the removal of Justice Dinakaran. Pending the completion of enquiry, he is now being asked to go on leave.