Union law minister M Veerappa Moily today said the government had no role to play on the issue of I-T authorities in Kerala declining to furnish details of assets of former CJI K G Balakrishnan and his family members.

"I don't know what role government has to play. It is for the respective information commissioner to deal with it," he told reporters at the airport here on his arrival for an official engagement.

He said that he had come across the issue only in the press, adding "nothing is authenticated."

He, however, asserted, "I want to make one thing very clear. The government has no role to play."

Income tax authorities at Kochi had declined to reveal details of tax returns filed Balakrishnan and his family members on an application under the right to information (RTI) act after the NHRC chairman and former CJI objected to disclosures.

Applicant T Balachandran had sought information and documents, certified copies of IT returns submitted by Justice Balakrishnan for 2005-06 to 2009-10, details of investigation and inquiry by the department against him and his son, K B Pradeep, two daughters -- Sony and Rani, sons-in law M J Benny and P V Sreenijan and brother K G Bhaskaran.

Moily further said that no one "should very lightly speak about persons who occupy highest position."

"This is not desirable. This will shake the confidence of institutions consciously preserved by the constitution," he said.

To a query on BJP's demand for Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into CWG, Adarsh housing and 2G scams, he slammed them for their "perversity".

He asked if that meant the Parliament or various standing committees should not function and that JPC alone should function.

"I am very sorry for the perversity of the Opposition," he said.