New Delhi: In the last 15 years, Hans Raj Bhardwaj as Union Law Minister and Karnataka Governor was holding two offices of profit at a time, without public enquiry. Now that it has been objected to, he has resigned as President of ICADR, an institution headed by him as the founder, and drawing an honourarium as well.
As a lawyer and Union Minister, Bharadwaj had created an International Centre for Alternative Dispute Resolution, whatever it meant+. As its head, he was paid on honourarium there. His son Arun was a life member there, in New Delhi.
Even after becoming the state governor, Hans Raj did not resign the earlier office of profit under rules. An English daily uncovered the facts on ICADR started in 1995 and run by the Governor till recently.
The ICADR was getting Central grants of Rs.11 crores every year so far.
It is working as a semi-judicial body for the last 15 years with Hans Raj claiming his charges as its president, even as the Karnataka state Governor having separate incomes in Raj Bhavan.
The dispute over Hans Raj holding two offices became louder day by day, until he agreed to leave one of them, i.e., ICADR. He wanted someone to come forward to take his post in New Delhi, but before someone could do so, he bowed out to stay as the state Governor!