PIL on Justice K G Balakrishnan: Supreme Court seeks government reply

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court today asked the Centre to file its response on a PIL seeking initiation of removal process of former Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan from the post of NHRC Chairman for his alleged "misbehaviour" and purchase of benami properties.


"At this stage, we are asking the Centre to file its response within three weeks," a bench headed by Justice B S Chauhan said.

During the brief hearing, the bench said let the Ministry of Law and Justice apprise the court about the status of the earlier complaint filed on this issue.

"More than two-and-a-half years have elapsed since we made the complaint with them. The complaint was supported by documents also. This issue cannot be allowed to go on and on," lawyer Prashant Bhushan, who has filed the PIL on behalf of NGO Common Cause, said.

"We want to know as to whether they (Centre) have disposed of the complaint or it is still pending with them," the bench said.

The PIL sought the competent authority to make a reference to the apex court to hold inquiry against Balakrishnan.