The Supreme Court today rejected Sikkim High Court Chief Justice PD Dinakaran’s objection to the Rajya Sabha-appointed inquiry panel availing the assistance of a Chennai-based advocate, R Vaigai.

A Bench comprising Justices GS Singhvi and CK Prasad dismissed a petition filed by Dinakaran and said it would give the reasons for the ruling later. Senior counsel Amarendra Sharan, appearing for the CJ, cited various court rulings to contend that the probe panel, headed by SC Judge Aftab Alam, could not take on record the pleadings of any such person.

Meanwhile, Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice- President Hamid Ansari has reconstituted the panel, replacing senior advocate PP Rao with G Mohan Gopal, Director of Rajiv Gandhi Institute for Contemporary Studies at the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation. Karnataka High Court Chief Justice JS Khehar is the third member of the panel.

The SC Bench had earlier allowed Justice Dinakaran’s objection to the inclusion of Rao in the panel, contending that the eminent jurist had campaigned against his proposed elevation to the apex court.

The probe panel has framed about 15 charges against Justice Dinakaran, including corruption and land grab, as part of the move for his removal through impeachment in Parliament.

 

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