The National Commission for Scheduled Castes has taken a serious view of an alleged vilification campaign launched in the print and electronic media by some anti-Dalit and casteist elements in the Bar Council of India and various State Bar Associations in the Justice P.D. Dinakaran issue.
(Allegations have been made against Karnataka High Chief Justice Dinakaran, whose name has been recommended for elevation to the Supreme Court.)
The Commission, in a statement, said those “who are known for having a casteiest attitude towards the increasing strength of SCs and STs in judicial services” were spreading this campaign against Chief Justice of India K.G. Balakrishnan and Justice Dinakaran.
The Commission would have welcomed any step taken by the government of India to preserve and protect the honour of the CJI, the Chief Justices of the High Courts and Scheduled Caste judges serving in various courts. But it was keeping silent and this gave the media room for playing on the constitutional rights of the SCs, the statement said.
“The matter is so serious that the Commission would have taken into its hand the full investigation of the case but the Commission respects the judiciary and all members of the judiciary including the SCs. Therefore, if the tirade against the SCs in the judiciary is not stopped, the Commission would be duty-bound to take stock of the situation which has arisen from the unabashed and continuous campaign of vilification against the CJI and Justice Dinakaran.”
