This event, reportedly organized by Bharat Vikas Parishad on January 22 at the Mahakumbh Mela in Prayagraj, had sparked controversy due to a widely circulated poster falsely naming him as the speaker.
Allahabad: Justice Shekhar Yadav of the Allahabad High Court has denied rumors about his participation as a keynote speaker at a seminar on the Ram Mandir movement.
This event, reportedly organized by Bharat Vikas Parishad on January 22 at the Mahakumbh Mela in Prayagraj, had sparked controversy due to a widely circulated poster falsely naming him as the speaker.
The organizers confirmed his decision to cancel the visit.
One of them stated, “Kal tak wo aa rahe the, ab unki taraf se intimation aaya hai ki wo nahin aa rahe hain event mein…Media wale hi bata sakte hain ki unhone aana kyon cancel kiya.”
Justice Yadav spoke to the media and clarified his position, strongly refuting the claims.
He said, “This is fake news. Nothing. I will not attend. This is fake news. Sorry…Somebody used me and some advertisements made stating that I am in this occasion.”
The poster, shared extensively on social media platforms, falsely identified Justice Yadav as the keynote speaker for the seminar. The event was reportedly focused on topics related to the Ram Mandir movement and cow protection.
Justice Yadav labeled the poster as “fake” and categorically denied any involvement.
This is not the first time Justice Yadav has faced controversy. On December 8, he delivered a speech at an event organized by the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), a Hindu right-wing group. During the lecture, which revolved around the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), he made remarks that many deemed contentious. He had stated that India should function according to the wishes of the majority population. Furthermore, he used the term “kathmullah,” a derogatory word against Muslims, which led to widespread criticism.
Following these remarks, the Supreme Court Collegium, led by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, intervened. Justice Yadav was reportedly summoned and cautioned about upholding the dignity of his judicial office. The Collegium counseled him on the importance of maintaining decorum in his public speeches.
However, since that meeting, Justice Yadav has remained stubborn, providing neither an apology nor an explanation. Following their discussion, CJI Khanna informed the full Supreme Court about the matter. This latest action by the CJI is viewed as an initial step toward launching an in-house inquiry regarding the alleged misconduct of a judge.
According to a 1995 Supreme Court ruling in the case of C Ravichandran Iyer versus Justice A M Bhattacharjee and Others, when a complaint involves a High Court judge, the Chief Justice of that High Court must conduct an inquiry and consult with the Chief Justice of India.
That particular case dealt with allegations of financial misconduct against then Bombay High Court Chief Justice A M Bhattacharjee. The court addressed the distinction between inappropriate behavior and impeachable misconduct.
Although Justice Bhattacharjee resigned following the allegations, the Supreme Court established a legal framework for such issues, stating that it would serve as a precedent for the future.
The ruling noted,
“We believe that when a complaint pertains to a High Court judge, the Chief Justice of that High Court, after verification and possibly a confidential inquiry from independent sources, should ascertain the accuracy of the allegations made by the Bar Association against the judge and consult the Chief Justice of India as necessary.”
It further specified that when the Chief Justice of India is involved, to prevent embarrassment and ensure fairness, the Bar should refrain from taking further actions to allow the CJI to appropriately address the matter.
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