Bar disapproves Dinakarans elevation

Anil Diwan, Shanti Bhushan, Fali Nariman and Ram Jethmalani have written to the Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan calling for an enquiry before elevating Justice P.D. Dinakaran as a Justice of the Supreme Court. Justice Dinakaran is presently the Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court. Justice Dinakaran denied all allegations when confronted with the letter..Senior members of the bar, Anil Diwan, Shanti Bhushan, Fali Nariman and Ram Jethmalani (pictured) have written to the Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Pratibha Patil calling for an enquiry before elevating Justice P.D. Dinakaran as a Justice of the Supreme Court. Justice Dinakaran is presently the Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court..The collegium of the Suprme Court, headed by the Chief Justice and comprising Justices B.N. Agarwal, Tarun Chatterjee, Altamas Kabir and H.S. Kapadia had recommended the elevation of Justice Dinakaran in August. Justice Balakrishnan sought an explanation from Justice Dinakaran after he received the letter on September 8. Sources indicate that Justice Dinakaran has denied all allegations..Mr. Shanti Bhushan, in conversation with Bar & Bench said, “The Chennai bar has made serious allegations as to Justice Dinakaran’s integrity. There have been a host of charges against Justice Dinakaran starting from granting arbitrary bail to amassing panchayath and government lands to the extent of 50 acres. It has been alleged that he is a corrupt judge and he has amassed properties in both his name and that of his family.” Calling for an enquiry, he added, “All we need is that they enquire into the nature of the allegations. These allegations must be thoroughly investigated.”.Mr. Bhushan is of the view that Justices Markandey Katju and Justice A.K. Ganguli, both who have been Chief Justices of the Madras High Court, where Justice Dinakaran was a Judge must be consulted by the collegium as they would have seen his performance and conduct as a judge. Mr. Nariman, in an interview with NDTV, informed that the bench must be above suspicion and his main concern was that, the image of the Judiciary must stay intact and not tarnished.