On the 13^th of February, the Supreme Court heard the petition filed by Common Cause in their case against former CJI K G Balakrishnan for possession of disproportionate assets. The petition had earlier sought removal of Justice Balakrishnan as NHRC Chairperson. But now, since he has already finished his term, an application has been filed to amend the prayer to seek SIT investigation against him for “possession of disproportionate assets”.

SC issued notice on the application seeking amendment of the prayer after Mr. Prashant Bhushan appearing for the petitioner said that the income tax assessment details of the relatives of Justice Balakrishnan makes “shocking revelations”. Bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra said that petitioner’s prayer for SIT investigation would be considered and directed the Govt to file its reply in the matter.

Mr. Bhushan on the basis of attached chart stated that the assessing officers of income tax department computed the income of relatives of Justice Balakrishnan much in excess of the income they had declared. He submitted that this makes out a clear case of possession of disproportionate assets by a person who had once been the CJI. The attached chart was placed by the Govt in the Supreme Court on the basis of orders passed by the Court in this very case.

Amendment application – read more

Income tax assessment details of the relatives of Justice KG Balakrishnan (retired) – read more