By IANS,
New Delhi : The government should “persuade” National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) head K.G. Balakrishnan to step down, said former chief justice of India J.S. Verma.
“I have said it long back that he should have demitted long back and if he does not want to do it voluntarily, the government should persuade him to do that,” Verma said when asked whether the NHRC chief should demit office in the wake of corruption charges against him.
Balakrishnan, who was appointed CJI in January 2007 and retired May 2010, is facing allegations of corruption after his family members reportedly amassed wealth disproportionate to their known sources of income. He took charge as NHRC chief last June.
After the home ministry received a petition last week, it asked the Revenue Department to conduct a probe into the allegations of disproportionate assets against Balakrishnan.
Verma also said the continuance of Balakrishnan as NHRC chief affects its “image internationally.”
Verma had headed the NHRC 2000-2003.