The All India Lawyers Union (AILU) strongly criticized Justice Shekhar Yadav for his controversial speech at a Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) event, calling it a threat to judicial independence and constitutional values. They accused the speech of promoting hate speech against the Muslim minority under a guise of majoritarian rhetoric. AILU emphasized that such remarks violate a judge’s constitutional oath and undermine democracy.
New Delhi: The speech given by Justice Shekhar Yadav, a current judge of the Allahabad High Court, at a Vishva Hindu Parishad event, represents a serious breach of the Constitution and its core principles, particularly regarding secularism and judicial independence.
All India Lawyers Union (AILU) stated,
“It threatens the integrity of the judiciary from within,”
The AILU further noted,
“The tone and content of the speech reflect hate speech towards the Muslim minority, cloaked in majoritarian Hindu rhetoric. His comments, filled with animosity, are inappropriate for a sitting judge of a constitutional court and violate his constitutional oath.”
The organization asserted,
“Democracy does not equate to majoritarianism or religious dominance. Justice Yadav’s statements resonate with the ideology of a Hindutva Rashtra, which contradicts the democratic ethos of our nation.”
The AILU also pointed out the flaws within the collegium system for selecting and appointing judges, highlighting its failure to protect judicial independence or address judicial misconduct.
They called for an independent constitutional mechanism for the selection and appointment of judges to constitutional courts, ensuring representation from all stakeholders, free from executive or judicial dominance.
In conclusion, the AILU urged,
“We strongly condemn the remarks made by Justice Shekhar Yadav and appeal to the Hon’ble President of India, the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India, and the Supreme Court to take appropriate remedial action and initiate proceedings against him.”
Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav of the Allahabad High Court sparked controversy following a speech at a Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) event. In his address, he claimed that India, referred to as “Hindustan,” should reflect the wishes of the majority population, implying a Hindu-centric viewpoint. He also employed the term “kathmullah,” a derogatory slur aimed at Muslims, to describe extremists, suggesting that vigilance against them is necessary.
These statements have faced substantial criticism for potentially breaching constitutional values of secularism and judicial neutrality. The All India Lawyers Union (AILU) condemned Yadav’s remarks, arguing that they undermine judicial independence and violate the constitutional oath expected of a High Court judge. They stressed that democracy should not be equated with majoritarianism or religious dominance and expressed concerns that such rhetoric aligns with the ideology of a “Hindutva Rashtra,” which contradicts the democratic principles of the nation.