Supreme Court takes note of Justice Yadav’s remarks backing UCC at VHP event, seeks d
Supreme Court takes note of Justice Yadav’s remarks backing UCC at VHP event, seeks details from Allahabad High Court
M.U.H
10/12/202434
The Supreme Court Tuesday said it had taken note of newspaper reports of a speech given by Allahabad High Court judge Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav at an event organised by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, and sought details from the High Court.
Addressing the event organised by the VHP’s legal cell on the court premises on Sunday, Justice Yadav said, “You can’t disrespect a woman who has been recognised as a goddess in our Shastras and Vedas. You can’t claim the right to have four wives, perform halala, or practice triple talaq. You say, we have the right to say ‘triple talaq’, and not give maintenance to women.”
According to a VHP press release, the judge also spoke in favour of the UCC. “Having different Constitutions for people of different communities and religions in a country is no less than a danger to the nation. When we talk of human uplift, it should rise above religion and should be within the ambit of the Constitution,” the press release quoted him as saying.
Sources said the Supreme Court has sought details of the event.
The development comes against the backdrop of objections raised by some lawyers bodies over the content of his speech.
On Tuesday, NGO Citizens for Judicial Accountability and Reforms wrote to Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, seeking “constitution of in-house enquiry for initiating appropriate action against Justice Yadav… for judicial impropriety, breaching his solemn oath as a judge, and violating the code of conduct for judges.”
It said that “on December 8, Justice Shekhar Yadav participated in and spoke at the provincial convention of the VHP’s law Cell (Kashi Province) in the Library Hall of the High Court Bar, held within the Allahabad High Court premises… where he has made both direct and veiled attacks against India’s Muslims…”
This, it added, “goes against the constitutional ideals that a Judge swears allegiance to and a constitutional court’s crucial role as a countermajoritarian institution”.
“Justice Yadav also used unpardonable and unconscionable slurs against the Muslim community, bringing shame and disrepute to the High Office of a Judge of the Allahabad High Court and the Judiciary as a whole besides undermining the rule of law, he is meant to uphold,” the letter said.
It added that Justice Yadav’s “conduct, apart from being communal and discriminatory, is in violation of the Restatement of Values of Judicial Life, adopted by the Supreme Court of India in 1997, as applicable to Supreme Court and High Court judges.“
On Tuesday, AIMIM chief and Lok Sabha MP Asaduddin Owaisi posted on X, I have signed a notice seeking removal proceedings against Shekhar Yadav, judge of Allahabad High Court. The process was initiated by (Srinagar MP from National Conference) Ruhullah Mehdi. The judge’s behaviour violates constitutional norms, including the Supreme Court’s ‘Restatement of Values of Judicial Life’. The notice requires the signature of 100 Lok Sabha Members to be considered by the Speaker.”
