Jagdish S Khehar sworn in as new K'taka CJ

New Delhi: Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar of Uttrakhand High Court has been appointed as the new Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court on Sunday.

The decision to appoint Justice Khehar was taken by the SC Collegium following the decision to transfer Justice Dinakaran to the Sikkim High Court. Justice Khehar comes in at a time when Karnataka High Court has been deeply divided.

Justice Dinakran's fate was hanging in balance for quite some time after allegations of corruption and misuse of power were made against him. Dinakaran was tranferred to Sikkim after allegations of corruption.

However, Justice Dinakaran was recommended for promotion to the SC by the Collegium in August, 2009. But after several top jurists objected to his name citing allegations of corruption and land grabbing, the government returned the recommendation to the Collegium.

In January, Opposition parties moved an impeachment motion against Justice Dinakaran. Allegations listed in the impeachment motion against Justice Dinakaran include possessing wealth disproportionate to known sources of income, unlawfully securing five housing board plots in the name of his wife and two daughters and entering into benami transactions. The charges against him also include acquiring and possessing agricultural holdings beyond the ceiling limit.

Justice Dinakaran has refuted the allegations. While he has been staying away from the Bench, he continues to carry out administrative functions.

(Inputs from PTI)