<p>"Instead of rushing with his rash and irresponsible statements, the former CJI should have taken care and consulted the file by summoning the registrar of the Supreme Court," he said.<br /><br />He hoped the statement was a mere "lapse" and added, "I do not know what made him to issue the rash statements."<br /><br />The BJP MP said the present controversy was uncalled for as the file was already with the Supreme Court registry and Justice Balakrishnan should have consulted the records.<br /><br />Jethmalani, who is the President of the Supreme Court Bar Association, was reacting to the statements issued by Balakrishnan today and on December 8 and the rebuttal given by Justice H S Gokhale to the former CJI's assertions.<br /><br />Balakrishnan had earlier claimed that the then Madras High Court Chief Justice Gokhale, now a Supreme Court judge, did not not name Raja in his report to him.<br /><br />The claim was rebutted by Justice Gokhale, who, in a press statement, yesterday said "With respect to this statement (of ex-CJI) I may point out that Justice Reghupathi's letter was already with him and in the second paragraph thereof justice Reghupathi had specifically mentioned the name of Raja."<br /><br />The former CJI today responded to Gokhale's statement by insisting that the minister's name was not mentioned by Gokhale in his report.</p>
<p>"Instead of rushing with his rash and irresponsible statements, the former CJI should have taken care and consulted the file by summoning the registrar of the Supreme Court," he said.<br /><br />He hoped the statement was a mere "lapse" and added, "I do not know what made him to issue the rash statements."<br /><br />The BJP MP said the present controversy was uncalled for as the file was already with the Supreme Court registry and Justice Balakrishnan should have consulted the records.<br /><br />Jethmalani, who is the President of the Supreme Court Bar Association, was reacting to the statements issued by Balakrishnan today and on December 8 and the rebuttal given by Justice H S Gokhale to the former CJI's assertions.<br /><br />Balakrishnan had earlier claimed that the then Madras High Court Chief Justice Gokhale, now a Supreme Court judge, did not not name Raja in his report to him.<br /><br />The claim was rebutted by Justice Gokhale, who, in a press statement, yesterday said "With respect to this statement (of ex-CJI) I may point out that Justice Reghupathi's letter was already with him and in the second paragraph thereof justice Reghupathi had specifically mentioned the name of Raja."<br /><br />The former CJI today responded to Gokhale's statement by insisting that the minister's name was not mentioned by Gokhale in his report.</p>