Chief justice of India has to take a view on Dinakaran: Moily

Government today informed the Rajya Sabha that a view on allegations against a high court chief justice, who was  recommended for elevation to the supreme court, is to be taken by the chief justice of India "as per existing procedure".

"A view on the allegations made against one of the chief justices is to be taken by the chief justice of India as per the existing procedure," Union minister of law and justice M Veerappa Moily said in reply to questions raised by Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh.

The minister's reference was apparently to Karnataka high court chief justice PD Dinakaran who is facing allegations of land grabbing, a charge refuted by the judge.

Dinakaran has been in thick of controversy after some jurists including senior advocate Fali S Nariman objected to his appointment as supreme court judge, accusing him of judicial impropriety.

The supreme court collegium, headed by chief justice KG Balakrishnan, is expected to soon decide the fate of Dinakaran. Government has rejected the recommendation of the collegium for his elevation and asked it to reconsider it.

Moily said the CJI had recommended names of five chief justices of various high courts for appointment as judges of the apex court. While Dinakaran's name was kept on hold, the other four were appointed as judges of the supreme court last month.

Moily replied in the affirmative on being asked whether government has received complaints from eminent jurists and Lawyers' Association in Chennai levelling serious charges of corruption and disproportionate assets against the judge.