Panel wants honest officers to inquiry into Dinakaran case

A three-member committee investigating the charges of misconduct and corruption against former chief justice of Karnataka high court PD Dinakaran, is now looking for two retired officers with impeccable reputation, from the income tax and police departments, to examine the evidences against the controversial judge.

The panel — comprising Supreme Court (SC) judge VS Sirpurkar, Karnataka high court judge JS Khehar and constitutional lawyer PP Rao — may recommend Dinakaran’s removal under the Judges Inquiry Act even if some of the charges against him are proved.

Sources say the panel enjoys all the powers of a civil court, thus it can summon any witness, material and evidence relating to the inquiry.

This is the third probe set up under the Judges Inquiry Act, the first being against SC judge V Ramaswami, who escaped impeachment on the floor of the House as Congress MPs abstained from voting.

Another panel led by SC justice B Sudershan Reddy had submitted the report to Rajya Sabha chairman Hamid Ansari. It had probed the allegation of financial misconduct against a Calcutta HC judge Soumitra Sen.

The SC collegium during former Chief Justice KG Balakrishnan’s term had recommended the elevation of Dinakaran to the apex court. But public outcry prevailed and the name had to be dropped.