SC collegium made a mistake on Dinakaran: CJI

Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan on Monday said the Supreme Court collegium made a mistake in recommending the name of Karnataka High Court Chief Justice P D Dinakaran for appointment to the apex court and maintained that any judge found to have trespassed any land is not fit to be elevated.

"Collegium takes a decision. I have to weed out things... We have committed a mistake," he said when asked if the Dinakaran issue had dented the image of judiciary."

"I am of the firm view that if any judge has trespassed any land or has done anything against law, he is not fit to be elevated to the Supreme Court," the CJI told NDTV.

However, he said when Justice Dinakaran's name was recommended for appointment as judge of the apex court there were no allegations against him.

"There was no allegation regarding Dinakaran when his name was recommended for the apex court. There was no allegation even when he was a judge in the Madras High Court nor when he was Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court."

When asked whether image of judiciary in aftermath of Dinakaran controversy has been lowered in the eyes of common man, the CJI said "No, people don't take seriously these things."