Call for Dinakaran impeachment

Prashant Bhushan, a leading member of the registered body, said the forum had submitted a representation to the ruling Congress and Opposition BJP, CPM and Janata Dal (U) to start the impeachment process in Parliament against Justice Dinakaran.

The representation submitted to leaders of the ruling and opposition parties, a copy of which was made available to Deccan Herald, mentioned in detail the alleged judicial impropriety committed by Justice Dinakaran during his tenure as a judge. Opposition parties were rather quick to react over the representation from the forum.

The BJP, the main opposition party, indicated its broad support to the move. “We ill not disappoint the senior lawyers”, party sources said. However, no leader from the party was willing to openly commit support to the impeachment proposal.

But CPM leader Sitaram Yechuri came out in the open in support. “We fully support the demand. In our view a judge with doubtful integrity should not continue in his position,” said Yechury. JD(U) president Sharad Yadav, too, was forthright. “I agree with the eminent jurists who met me and shared details of the shocking case with me,” he said. However, Congress spokespersons were not available for comment.

“Judiciary is the conscience keeper of our constitutional values ...The conduct of Mr Justice PD Dinakaran has most certainly shaken that faith.  Being the head of the judiciary in the State, Justice P D Dinakaran has set a bad example for the rest of the judiciary.  His acts constitute serious misbehaviour and call for his immediate removal from judicial office,” the representation said.

The Union government has returned the file recommending Justice Dinakaran’s elevation to the Supreme Court back to the apex court collegium. That has effectively meant the rejection of the collegium’s recommendation for elevating Justice Dinakararn to the Supreme Court. The Centre has also not taken any decision on the request of the Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan to institute a probe against Justice Dinakaran.