The Chief Justice is stated to have told a delegation of Karnataka advocates who met him on Monday at the Supreme Court that he has no Constitutional power to relieve Dinkaran of his duties.
The Chief Justice is also stated to have told a delegation of The Advocates Association, Bangalore that the Supreme Court collegium has no independent mechanism to investigate the corruption charges against Justice Dinakaran and has hence left the task to the Central government.
He is stated to have told them that a decision on disciplinary action can be taken against Justice Dinakaran only on the receipt of a report from the Centre.
The delegation comprising the association's president K N Puttegowda, general secretary R Rajanna and treasurer T G Ravi also met collegium members Justices Tarun Chatterjee, R V Raveenderan, besides Justice Cyriac Joseph with their demand to relieve the judge of his duties.
Puttegowda told PTI after the meeting that they have made it clear through a written memorandum to the collegium that continuance of Dinakaran would 'result in erosion of public confidence in the judiciary.'
"Though the Chief Justice did not agree to our demand for relieving Justice Dinakaran of his judicial work, he has agreed to examine the question of transferring him to some other high court, as demanded by us," Puttegowda said
The delegation told the collegium members that many designated senior advocates have also decided not to appear in court no. 1 of Dinakaran as long as he continues to preside over the court proceedings.
"The result is that the judicial work in that court is not being carried on smoothly and the atmosphere in the court is vitiated, as the presiding judge is one who is facing serious charges of misconduct," the memorandum stated.
"We therefore, hereby appeal to the Hon'ble Chief Justice of India and the collegium to take immediate decision in the matter," it added.
The collegium had earlier delinked Dinakaran's name from the list of five judges, four of whom have subsequently been elevated to the Supreme Court.
The move to put on hold Dinakaran's elevation comes amid allegations that the judge has amassed land in Tamil Nadu's Tiruvallur district.
The Supreme Court collegium had earlier considered a report of the district collector of Tiruvallur which is believed to have given details of the land allegedly possessed by Dinakaran at Kaverirajapuram in Tiruttani taluka.
