The Bhopal gas tragedy verdict, which came today - 26 years after the disaster, has come late, said National Human Rights Commission chief K G Balakrishnan.

Asked about the quantum of punishment, the former chief justice of India said, "I cannot comment on the court's verdict on the quantum of punishment. Inadequacy of a sentence is ground for appeal and the aggrieved parties can appeal on the same ground."

Balakrishnan was addressing a press conference after taking charge as head of the NHRC on Monday, three weeks after retiring as CJI. The post had been lying vacant since May 2009 after the retirement of Justice Rajendra Babu. Justice G P  Mathur, member of the Commission, was functioning as its acting chairperson in the interim.

Balakrishnan also said that Maoism is a complex issue and there are instance of human rights violation of the security forces, the tribals and the common man, who have no access to education and health services.

Asked if the delay in clearing the mercy petitions pending before the president could be considered as violation of human rights, Balakrishnan said, "Those people are living. Will executing them immidiately not be violation to their human right?"

"Any type of killing is a crime," he said, when asked about Khap panchayats and cases of "honour killings". Asked if Khap panchayats should be banned or not, he said: "no comments."