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Sikkim HC Chief Justice Dinakaran resigns

By The Assam Tribune

NEW DELHI, July 30 (PTI): Facing impeachment on charges of corruption and judicial misconduct, Sikkim High Court Chief Justice PD Dinakaran resigned Friday expressing "lack of faith and confidence" in the three-member inquiry Committee probing charges against him.

"Before demitting office, I must confess with a very heavy heart that in spite of my constitutional position, I have been denied fair opportunity to defend myself and my reputation by the Judges Inquiry Committee," he said in a two-page letter of resignation sent to President Pratibha Patil.

61-year-old Dinakaran, a Dalit, also said he had a "sneaking suspicion" that his "misfortune" was because of the circumstances of his birth in the socially oppressed and underprivileged section of the society.

He also told PTI that he was a victim of media trial.

"You (media) have killed me, my family and my reputation."

"You called me a land grabber. There were people with vested interests who said whatever they wanted. Media wrote without verifying. Now you have achieved what you wanted," a visibly agitated Dinakaran said.

Dinakaran is the third judge of the higher judiciary to face impeachment proceedings. The impeachment motion against Justice V Ramaswamy of the Supreme Court was defeated in the Lok Sabha in mid-nineties, while the inquiry report of three- member committee appointed by Rajya Sabha Chairman against Justice Soumitra Sen of Calcutta High Court is still pending.

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