The Supreme Court collegium’s recommendation to transfer controversial Karnataka High Court Chief Justice P D Dinakaran to Sikkim High Court is stuck, at least for the time being. The government is learnt to have sent back the file of all recommendations, including that of Dinakaran, to the Supreme Court collegium for reconsideration.

It is learnt that this happened after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expressed reservation over the collegium recommendation to transfer two Chief Justices — Himachal Pradesh High Court Chief Justice Kurian Joseph and Sikkim High Court Chief Justice Barin Ghosh — less than three months after they assumed office.

A senior functionary in the Union Ministry of Law and Justice told The Indian Express that the Prime Minister was of the view that the transfer of a Chief Justice in such a short time should be avoided.