Judge cash discovery row | Dhankhar says legislature, judiciary not pitted against each other

He made the comments in Rajya Sabha a day after saying "things would have been different" if the mechanism for judicial appointments -- referring to the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) -- had not been struck down by the Supreme Court.

New Delhi: Amid rising debate over judicial accountability following the discovery of half-burnt currency at a High Court judge's residence, Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Wednesday said the executive, legislature and judiciary are not pitted against each other but they have to function in tandem with checks and balances.

Briefing MPs about a meeting he held with Rajya Sabha floor leaders, he said he had held deliberations with leaders of various political parties to discuss the fallout of the row over the discovery of huge amount of currency at Justice Yashwant Varma's residence and the way forward and they had a "very fruitful" interaction on the issue that is agitating the minds of the public.

“Without going into the details, the deliberations were consensual, reflecting cooperation, concern, and the issue is not between institutions. It is not that the Executive, Legislature, or Judiciary are pitted against each other,” he said in Rajya Sabha during Zero Hour.

"All the institutions in the country have to function in tandem, in togetherness and also there are checks and balances which are well meant. It has been given by both Leader of the House and Leader of the Opposition that after having wider consultations amongst all concerned in their respective parties and otherwise, they would come to the Chairman for further deliberations," he said.

On Tuesday, he said "things would have been different" if the mechanism -- National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) -- for judicial appointments had not been struck down by the Supreme Court.

Separately, BJP Lok Sabha MP Mukesh Rajput sought action against Allahabad High Court judge Justice Ram Manohar Narayan Mishra for his order that merely grabbing breasts and pulling pyjama strings of a woman does not amount to rape.

He raised the issue during Zero Hour and said the order was "undignified, disturbing and condemnable".

"It is regrettable that people occupying high posts make such remarks. It is a post where a person in distress turns to seek justice… But when a sitting judge makes such remarks regarding women, it is horrifying and condemnable," the Farrukhabad MP said adding, "such a person should apologise to women. I urge the minister to take note of these remarks and take action against this person as mandated by the Constitution."

His remarks came even as the Supreme Court on Wednesday stayed the observations made by Justice Mishra, saying it depicted "total insensitiveness" and an "inhuman approach".