Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav Likely to Appear Before SC Collegium Over Controversial Statements

Keyword: Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav controversy, Supreme Court Collegium, judicial ethics inquiry.

The Supreme Court of India is set to address the controversy surrounding Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav of the Allahabad High Court, who allegedly made contentious remarks at a Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) function on December 8, 2024. The judge is expected to appear before the Supreme Court Collegium to explain his stance, following the apex court’s directive seeking a detailed report from the Allahabad High Court.

Justice Yadav’s speech, delivered at a provincial convention of the VHP’s legal cell and High Court unit, centered on topics like the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and its purported aim of fostering social harmony, gender equality, and secularism. However, parts of his remarks, including references to the law functioning in line with the majority, sparked widespread criticism after video clips circulated on social media.

The controversy prompted opposition leaders, activists, and legal organizations to question the judge’s impartiality and adherence to judicial ethics. Lawyer and activist Prashant Bhushan, representing the NGO Campaign for Judicial Accountability and Reforms, wrote to Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna, calling for an in-house inquiry. Bhushan accused Justice Yadav of violating constitutional principles of impartiality and secularism, arguing that his statements eroded public trust in the judiciary’s independence.

“A strong institutional response is needed to restore public faith in the judiciary,” Bhushan’s letter urged, advocating for an immediate inquiry and the withdrawal of judicial work from Justice Yadav.

Similarly, CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat criticized Justice Yadav’s remarks as a violation of his judicial oath, stating that “such persons have no place in a court of justice.” The Bar Association of India also passed a resolution condemning the judge’s statements and demanded that he retract his remarks and issue an apology. The association further called for stricter guidelines to prevent court premises from being used for events hosted by organizations not linked to the judiciary.

The Supreme Court, in its December 10 statement, confirmed that the matter was under consideration, with details sought from the Allahabad High Court. As per established practices, judges facing such allegations are given an opportunity to present their version before the Supreme Court Collegium, headed by the CJI.

Justice Yadav’s statements have reignited the debate on the judiciary’s role as a neutral arbiter and the ethical boundaries judges must uphold, particularly when addressing public forums. With various stakeholders calling for stern action, the apex court’s response is likely to have significant implications for the judiciary’s credibility and independence.

The incident underscores the importance of maintaining judicial impartiality and the separation of personal beliefs from professional conduct to ensure public trust in the judicial system remains intact.

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