- P. D. Dinakaran
-
P. D. Dinakaran Chief Justice of the Sikkim High Court Incumbent Assumed office
August 8, 2008 [1]Personal details Born May 9, 1950 [2]
Arakkonam, Tamil NaduReligion Christian[3] Paul Daniel Dinakaran Premkumar (born May 9, 1950) is the Chief Justice of the High Court of the Indian state of Karnataka. He has been in the news recently for his alleged misdemeanors.
Contents
Childhood and education
Dinakaran did his schooling at Arakkonam, North Arcot District (presently Vellore District). He attended Madras Christian College, Chennai and studied chemistry. He obtained his Masters in Political Science and Public Administration and Bachelor of Law Degree from Madras Law College.[2]
Career
He started his career in Madras High Court. He also practiced in the State and Central Administrative Tribunals at Madras. He served as Legal Adviser and Standing Counsel for Pondicherry University and for several State owned Corporations, such as Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC), Tamil Nadu Sugar Corporation, Tamil Nadu Sugar Federation Limited, Tamil Nadu Co-operative Milk Producers Federation (Aavin).[2]
He was also standing counsel for various religious institutions, such as Churches of South India, Madras Diocese and Coimbatore Diocese and Sri Subramania Swami Temple, Tiruttani and for several Local Bodies, Educational Institutions, Teacher’s Federations, Agriculturists Associations, Marketing Societies and Social Organisations.[2]
On August 28, 2009, the Supreme Court of India announced that Dinakaran would be elevated to a Supreme Court Judge, but this was halted due to allegations of corruption and surrounding controversy.[4] Dinakaran subsequently refused to go on leave when asked by Chief Justice of India K.G. Balakrishnan and will now be transferred to the Sikkim High Court.[5]On 29th July, 2011 he resigned from the post of Sikkim Chief Justice. He was facing impeachment allegedly on the charges of corruption and judicial misconduct.[6]
Controversies
In September 2009, allegations were made against Dinakaran by several members of the Bar Council of India including Former Union Law Minister Ram Jethmalani[7] stating that he had huge assets and land acquisitions in his Hometown Arakkonam more than what was fixed by the Tamil Nadu Land reforms. The lawyers requested Chief Justice of India Union Law Minister not to appoint Dinakaran as Supreme Court Judge and initiate an enquiry process regarding the allegation. The members wrote a letter to President Pratibha Patil, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union Law Minister to intervene in this matter.[8][9]
Justice Dinakaran has not been performing any judicial functions since December 2009 when the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha admitted a motion seeking his removal on charges of corruption and abuse of his judicial office.[10] The Supreme Court collegium headed by Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan has decided to replace Justice Dinakaran with Uttarakhand High Court Chief Justice J.S. Khehar,[11] and recommended transfer of Dinakaran to the Sikkim High Court.[12] The Sikkim Bar Association opposes the transfer of Dinakaran to the Sikkim High Court and has asked the Supreme Court to reconsider the proposal, which requires approval from Indian President Pratibha Patil.[13][14]
Resignation
Facing impeachment on charges of corruption and judicial misconduct, Sikkim high court Chief Justice PD Dinakaran resigned on 29th july 2011 expressing "lack of faith and confidence" in the three-member inquiry Committee probing charges against him.
"Before demitting office, I must confess with a very heavy heart that in spite of my constitutional position, I have been denied fair opportunity to defend myself and my reputation by the Judges Inquiry Committee," he said in a two-page letter of resignation sent to President Pratibha Patil.
61-year-old Dinakaran, a Dalit, also said he had a "sneaking suspicion" that his "misfortune" was because of the circumstances of his birth in the socially oppressed and underprivileged section of the society.
References
- ^ "PD Dinakaran sworn in as Karnataka CJ". http://www.zeenews.com/news461006.html.
- ^ a b c d "Profile of Paul Daniel Dinakaran on Karnataka High Court website". http://karnatakajudiciary.kar.nic.in/bio_data/sitting_judges/cj_pddj.htm.
- ^ "Justice Dinakaran is being victimised as he is a Dalit Christian" alleges a tribal organization. See this link: http://beta.thehindu.com/news/national/article61638.ece
- ^ "SC asks Karnataka Chief Justice Dinakaran to go on leave". The Times of India. 3 April 2010. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/SC-asks-Karnataka-Chief-Justice-Dinakaran-to-go-on-leave/articleshow/5756749.cms.
- ^ Mahapatra, Dhananjay (10 April 2010). "Dinakaran to go to Sikkim, protests begin". The Times of India. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Dinakaran-to-go-to-Sikkim-protests-begin/articleshow/5779584.cms.
- ^ The Times Of India. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/i-am-a-victim-of-politics-and-legal-system-justice-dinakaran/articleshow/9423077.cms.
- ^ "Judge’s integrity in question". The Tribune. September 14, 2009. http://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20090915/main3.htm.
- ^ "CJI summoned Justice Dinakaran to Delhi". The Hindu (Chennai, India). 16 October 2009. http://www.hindu.com/2009/09/16/stories/2009091653530100.htm.
- ^ "Issues of deep concern". Outlook India. 16 September, 2009. http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?261852.
- ^ "Justice Dinakaran asked to go on leave". The Hindu (Chennai, India). 3 April 2010. http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/03/stories/2010040363460100.htm.
- ^ "J.S. Khehar to replace Dinakaran in Karnataka". The Hindu (Chennai, India). 10 April 2010. http://beta.thehindu.com/news/national/article393299.ece.
- ^ "Dinakaran not above law: Moily". The Hindu (Chennai, India). 25 April 2010. http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/25/stories/2010042555161300.htm.
- ^ "Sikkim Bar Association protests Dinakaran’s transfer (to Sikkim)". The Hindu (Chennai, India). 9 April 2010. http://beta.thehindu.com/news/states/other-states/article392924.ece.
- ^ "Supreme Court collegium sticks to shifting Justice Dinakaran to Sikkim". The Hindu (Chennai, India). 30 April 2010. http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/30/stories/2010043054251300.htm.
Categories:- 1950 births
- Living people
- Indian judges
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