Supreme Court asks Centre to furnish IT details of ex-CJI kin

Attorney-General Mukul Rohatgi on Monday informed the Supreme Court that the income-tax department has not found any nexus between the brother, sons and son-in-law of former Chief Justice of India K.G. Balakrishnan in purchase of properties as they are independent income tax assesses.

The A-G made this submission before a bench of Justices Dipak Misra and Shiva Kirti Singh in response to an earlier direction asking him to find out whether the income-tax department has taken any action against the brother, children and son-in-law of former Chief Justice of India K.G. Balakrishnan, who demitted office as Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission in May 2015.

The A-G said the kith and kin of Justice Balakrishnan are independent income tax assesses and the assessments are in various stages of appeal etc. The assessment orders had adequately dealt with the issues and it was found that there was no nexus between the assessees and Justice Balakrishnan. Taking on record the A-G’s submission, the bench asked him to file the copies of these assessment orders and posted the matter for further hearing on July 12.

During the resumed hearing on Monday, counsel for Common Cause Prashant Bhushan submitted that though the prayer regarding removal of Justice Balakrishnan had become infructuous following his retirement in May last, the matter could still be persued under Prevention of Corruption Act.