Plea for removal of NHRC chief Balakrishnan a serious issue:SC

The Supreme Court today termed as a "serious issue" a plea 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.

"It is a serious issue," a bench comprising justices B S Chauhan and S A Bobde said while deciding to take a cautious approach in proceeding with the plea in the absence of a clear settled legal position on the subject and added it has to hear the parties before taking any decision.

"We don't want to decide in a hurry," the bench said after deliberating for a while under what circumstances reference can be made for initiation of removal process of NHRC chief for his alleged misconduct and misbehaviour.

It said there was a need to examine "whether the proved misbehaviour has to be as a CJI or NHRC chief".

"We are in a dual role and as an inquiry officer can we ask government for reference," the bench observed and decided to give a detail hearing on the matter on October 30.

At the outset, the bench asked "can the alleged misconduct or misbehaviour as the judge be the ground for removal of NHRC chief".

Solicitor General Mohan Parasaran said "this office (NHRC Chief) is not the elongation of the office of judge and the nature and duty as NHRC chief is totally different".

He said the issue has been gone through by the Ministry of Law and no evidence of misconduct has been found against him as NHRC chief.

However, advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the NGO, Common Cause, which has filed a PIL against Balakrishnan, said the probe has to be initiated by the Supreme Court and the Centre is giving a "laughable interpretation".

He said when facts came to light, Balakrishnan was sitting as a chief of the NHRC and "NHRC chief can only be a former CJI".