New Delhi: Karnataka Chief Justice P D
Dinakaran, who has kept away from judicial work, on Thursday ruled
out resignation and termed as "unfortunate" the impeachment
motion tabled against him in Rajya Sabha.
Dinakaran also sought to rubbish allegations of land
grabbing in Tamil Nadu as "baseless and incorrect", claiming
that he can substantiate that his family was not holding any
land beyond the limit.
"Where is the question of stepping down," Dinakaran
said when asked whether he will step down in the backdrop of
move to impeach him and protest by lawyers in Karnataka.
On the impeachment motion moved against him in Rajya
Sabha, he said it was not an end by itself and nothing could
be concluded on that.
"I can only say it is an unfortunate situation.
Unfortunate not from my point of view, unfortunate for not
taking the entire reality and entire facts available on record
into consideration," he told Times Now news channel.
When pointed out that there is a demand for not
elevating him to the Supreme Court, Dinakaran said that the
inclusion of a name in the list was not in his hands. "I have
highest respect and confidence in the system," he said.
Asked about Karnataka lawyer's demand that he should
not attend work, he said there is no question of him
abstaining from work as he has "not committed any illegality,
any impropriety or misconduct or misbehaviour".
However, a one-line notification issued by Karnataka
High Court Registrar General Budhihal yesterday said Dinakaran
will not be presiding over the Bench till further orders.
It was not immediately clear whether Dinakaran has
himself withdrawn from judicial duties or was directed to do
so. Sources said Dinakaran has himself opted out of judicial
duties and that he would only take up administrative matters.
Claiming that the allegations against him are "without
any substance or without any basis", Dinakaran said the IT
returns will reveal the fact that these lands were owned
by him even before my elevation as a judge in December 1996.
PTI
First Published: Thursday, December 17, 2009, 18:43