Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav, a sitting judge of the Allahabad High Court, is likely to appear before the Supreme Court collegium following controversy over his remarks at a Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) event. The remarks, which included his statement that “the law works according to the majority,” were widely circulated on social media, sparking criticism from various quarters.
The Supreme Court took notice of the matter on December 10, after reports surfaced about Justice Yadav’s speech at the VHP event on December 8. The apex court sought a report from the Allahabad High Court to investigate the issue further. An official statement quoted by PTI mentioned that the Supreme Court had requested details from the High Court and was currently considering the matter.
As per standard procedure, when a judge is embroiled in controversy, the SC collegium, led by the Chief Justice of India (CJI), allows the concerned judge to present their version of events. Justice Yadav will likely be asked to explain his statements before the collegium.
During the VHP event, Justice Yadav reportedly discussed the Uniform Civil Code, claiming it was designed to promote “social harmony, gender equality, and secularism.” However, it was his other statements that raised eyebrows. In one instance, he allegedly said, “This is Hindustan, and this country would function as per the wishes of the ‘bahusankhyak’ (majority).”
Opposition leaders swiftly criticized his remarks, labeling them as “hate speech” and questioning his impartiality. On December 8, over 55 opposition MPs from the Rajya Sabha submitted a notice to the secretary-general of the Upper House, calling for the impeachment of Justice Yadav.
Additionally, senior lawyer Prashant Bhushan wrote a letter to Chief Justice of India, Sajiv Khanna, urging an “in-house inquiry” into the judge’s conduct. Bhushan emphasized that a strong institutional response was essential to maintain public faith in the judiciary. He also called for all judicial work to be withdrawn from Justice Yadav pending the inquiry.
The controversy surrounding Justice Yadav underscores the sensitive nature of judicial conduct and the importance of maintaining the judiciary’s integrity in public perception.
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