Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan on Sunday denied reports in a section of the media that the Supreme Court collegium has removed the name of controversial Karnataka High Court Chief Justice P D Dinakaran from the list of five Chief Justices recommended for elevation to the apex court.

Interacting with mediapersons on the sidelines of the All-India Conference of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), the CJI said, “We have only asked that the names of four other judges be processed for appointment as judges of the Supreme Court. His (Dinakaran’s) name has not been dropped. He is very much in the list.” The collegium, as reported earlier, has only asked the government to keep Dinakaran’s name in abeyance and process the other four judges.

To a question on whether the collegium had reconsidered recommending Dinakaran, Balakrishnan said, “No, No. We have only ordered a fresh inquiry.” He, however, refused to give details on the nature of the inquiry. “I can’t disclose that. Whatever the finding of the inquiry is, we will proceed further.”

The Karnataka High Court Chief Justice’s elevation to the Supreme Court has been stuck after allegations by leading lawyers and farmers that Dinakaran had amassed a large number of properties and had also grabbed government land.