Sikkim Bar Association protests Dinakaran's transfer

The bar association held an emergency meeting here soon after the news of the proposed transfer was telecast on news channels and unanimously resolved to boycott the swearing-in as well as the court to be presided over by Dinakaran, its president D R Thapa said

"How come the person be fit to be discharge judicial duties in one state if he has not not been found worthy of doing the same in another state," Thapa asked.

59-year-old Dinakaran has been dogged by charges of misuse of authority, corruption and land grab, which had prompted the apex court to retract its decision to elevate him to the Supreme Court last year.

The Supreme Court had earlier this week asked Dinakaran to go on a long leave and appointed Delhi High Court Judge Madan B Lokur as the acting Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court.

However, with Dinakaran refusing to go on leave, the proposal for his transfer was made by the Supreme Court collegium yesterday and it was sent to President Pratibha Patil for approval.

Govt mulling transferring Dinakaran to another HC

 New Delhi, April 9, PTI: Government is mulling the transfer of Karnataka High Court Chief Justice P D Dinakaran to another high court in the wake of his defiance to not proceed on leave as advised by the Supreme Court collegium.

Sources said that the collegium headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan has suggested to the government that it consider the option of shifting Dinakaran but there was no official word on it.

They said the collegium has conveyed its decision to the Law Ministry. There is speculation that Dinakaran may be moved to a high court in a northeastern state.

With Justice Dinakaran refusing to go on leave, the government is finding itself in a piquant situation.

After the collegium's decision, senior advocate Shanti Bhushan had said that Justice Dinakaran can defy the collegium's advice to go on leave. He said an acting chief justice can only assume charge if the chief justice proceeds on leave.

Sources said that one of the members of the collegium had tried to persuade Dinakaran to abide by the advice of the collegium.

Law Minister M Veerappa Moily had yesterday said that Dinakaran is not above the law.

The 59-year-old Karnataka High Court Chief Justice has not been performing judicial functions after Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari admitted a motion in December seeking his removal on charges of corruption, land-grab and abuse of judicial office. He has repeatedly denied the allegations.

The collegium has also cleared the name of the Acting Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court Justice Madan B Lokur to be appointed as the Acting Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court.

The SC collegium also discussed shifting other judges of the high court and it is likely that Justice Meenakumari of Andhra Pradesh High Court may be shifted to some other high court.