VHP President Alok Kumar criticized the Law Ministry for tweeting about a private VHP judges’ meeting, stating it was a closed-door event. He clarified that only retired judges were present at the gathering. The public disclosure has raised concerns over the confidentiality of such events. Kumar emphasized the need for discretion in such matters moving forward.
New Delhi: Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) International Working President and advocate Alok Kumar told that the Union Law Ministry made an error in tweeting about the Judges’ Meet, which took place in New Delhi on September 8 to discuss religious matters.
The event, attended by former Supreme Court and High Court judges, as well as Union Minister of State for Law and Justice (independent charge) Arjun Ram Meghwal, meant to be private.
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Kumar clarified that the meeting was a closed-door gathering focused on issues for India’s improvement.
He emphasized,
“Only former retired judges attended the event. It was a private gathering. The Law Minister sharing the picture publicly was a mistake.”
According to reports, Alok Kumar stated that the event was organized to address various topics, including the Waqf Bill and issues surrounding temples and mosques.
He said,
“We invited retired judges from the Supreme Court and high courts. Several societal issues such as the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, the return of temples, the transfer of temples under government control to society, and conversions were discussed. The goal was to facilitate a free exchange of views between the judges and the VHP, allowing both sides to better understand each other,”
A debate erupted on Twitter after Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal shared images from the VHP event on his official X handle.
Meghwal posted,
“Today, I participated in the Judge’s Meet organized by the legal cell of Vishwa Hindu Parishad, where we had an in-depth discussion on judicial reforms aimed at building a developed India,”
According to information on the VHP website, the organization was founded in 1964 with the goal of uniting the Hindu community, safeguarding the Hindu religion, and serving society.
A VHP official, speaking anonymously , revealed that two sitting Delhi High Court judges were present at the event. However, VHP President Alok Kumar, when contacted for clarification, denied their attendance.
Former Madhya Pradesh High Court judge, Justice Rohit Arya, who recently joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after his retirement, was seen in two of the images shared by Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal.
In a previous interview, Justice Arya acknowledged that his “philosophy for common good” had always aligned with BJP’s values.
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Another notable attendee former Supreme Court judge, Justice Hemant Gupta, who retired in October 2022 and is currently Chairperson of the New Delhi International Arbitration Centre (NDIAC). Justice Gupta gained attention for his ruling in the Karnataka Hijab case, where he supported the state’s order permitting educational institutions to restrict students from wearing hijabs. His reasoning emphasized the need for uniformity, equality, and a secular environment in schools.
Additionally, retired Supreme Court judge Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel, who served as Chairperson of the National Green Tribunal until his retirement in July 2022, also participated in the event.