Bangalore, Mar 12 (PTI): Karnataka Governor H R Bhardwaj has resigned as chairman of International Centre for Alternative Dispute Resolution after holding the post for 16 years since its inception in the wake of a office of profit controversy.

Bhardwaj has submitted his resignation, sources at the Raj Bhavan told PTI here, adding he did not attend the general body of ICADR at Delhi yesterday, though he was present there on a private visit.

ICADR, established in 1995, is a Delhi headquartered organisation under the aegis of the law ministry, with regional centres at Hyderabad and Bangalore. It came into existence when Bhardwaj was law minister in the P V Narasimha Rao ministry and he was chairman of the body.

Bhardwaj had come under criticism from some quarters, including some constitutional experts,for holding two offices, attracting the office of profit clause as ICADR receives Rs 11 crore grants from the Centre annually.