Bangalore:
In one of the fastest ever proceedings recorded in the annals of Karnataka's judiciary, Justice Dinakaran heard and adjourned 27 matters in less than 30 minutes.
These included a major public interest litigation over last week's doctors strike, wherein 4000 state government doctors resigned creating a public health crisis. The High Court had taken up the issue suo motu.
Justice Dinakaran averted a judicial crisis by showing up at the High Court, smiling and with folded hands, as it reopened after the Dussehra vacation on Monday. The high court had been abuzz with everyone wondering if the Chief Justice would preside over the proceedings, after Bangalore Advocates Association's resolution on September 17 requested that he refrain from attending court.
With this development, the request of the Advocate General of Karnataka Ashok Harnahalli has been heeded to. The state government's top legal brain had told NDTV that Dinakaran should attend work, when courts reopen.
What remains to be seen is the reaction of the Bangalore Advocates Association. The Karnataka Federation of Bar Associations has already indicated that it might take a decision on boycotting the bench presided over by Justice P D Dinakaran till his name was cleared of the allegations.
Justice Dinakaran is accused by the Forum of Judicial Accountability of buying nearly 550 acres in two districts of Tamil Nadu, violating the land ceiling Act - a charge Dinakaran has denied. Now, the forum has written another letter to the CJI, alleging more violations by Justice Dinakaran's family.