New Delhi:
Karnataka's most senior judge, accused publicly of corruption, is now at the centre of a new controversy over caste politics.
There are new allegations that the charges against Justice PD Dinakaran are motivated by the fact that he's a Dalit. Dinakaran's promotion to the Supreme Court has been suspended while a senior panel of Supreme Court judges decide what action, if any, to take against him.
The loudest support for Dinakraran has come from Buta Singh, Chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes. He says, "All these allegations are general attitude of anti-Scheduled Castes lobby in the country. Justice Dinakaran is criticised because he is a Dalit."
Buta Singh himself is battling accusations of corruption. His son was arrested earlier this year for allegedly demanding a one-crore bribe for a case that would be handled by his father.
Some of India's most respected lawyers like Fali Nariman and Shanti Bhushan have been campaigning for a thorough inquiry into Dinakaran's wealth, which allegedly includes acres of farmland in Tamil Nadu. The controversy over Dinankaran's caste began last week when former law minister Shanti Bhushan told reporters that Dinakaran was being promoted because he's a Dalit. Since then, he has revised his stand to, "Caste is not a factor, corruption is."
In Tamil Nadu, Dalit lawyers have protested on the streets in favour of Dinakaran. But in Karnataka, lawyers want the Chief Justice to be barred from hearing cases till he is cleared of the charged against him.
The Supreme Court collegium of judges is likely to decide Dinakaran's future by the end of next week. The twin issues before them: corruption and casteism.
There are new allegations that the charges against Justice PD Dinakaran are motivated by the fact that he's a Dalit. Dinakaran's promotion to the Supreme Court has been suspended while a senior panel of Supreme Court judges decide what action, if any, to take against him.
The loudest support for Dinakraran has come from Buta Singh, Chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes. He says, "All these allegations are general attitude of anti-Scheduled Castes lobby in the country. Justice Dinakaran is criticised because he is a Dalit."
Buta Singh himself is battling accusations of corruption. His son was arrested earlier this year for allegedly demanding a one-crore bribe for a case that would be handled by his father.
Some of India's most respected lawyers like Fali Nariman and Shanti Bhushan have been campaigning for a thorough inquiry into Dinakaran's wealth, which allegedly includes acres of farmland in Tamil Nadu. The controversy over Dinankaran's caste began last week when former law minister Shanti Bhushan told reporters that Dinakaran was being promoted because he's a Dalit. Since then, he has revised his stand to, "Caste is not a factor, corruption is."
In Tamil Nadu, Dalit lawyers have protested on the streets in favour of Dinakaran. But in Karnataka, lawyers want the Chief Justice to be barred from hearing cases till he is cleared of the charged against him.
The Supreme Court collegium of judges is likely to decide Dinakaran's future by the end of next week. The twin issues before them: corruption and casteism.
Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world
