Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav retired after impeachment notice over Vishwa Hindu Parishad remarks controversy. He claimed statements were twisted, denied bias, and said he was unfairly targeted despite no fault, defending judicial integrity during farewell address.
Allahabad High Court judge Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav, against whom Rajya Sabha MPs had given a notice for impeachment in December 2024 over alleged controversial remarks made at a VHP event, retired on Wednesday. Speaking at a Full Court reference held in his honour, Justice Yadav said that his words were “twisted” and claimed he had been unfairly targeted despite having “no fault.”
Addressing the court, he maintained that he never discriminated on the basis of caste or religion. He also argued that the controversy was a result of how others interpreted and presented his statements.
He said,
“I had no fault. It was the fault of those who twisted and presented it,”
The controversy stems from a speech Justice Yadav delivered at an event organised by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad. During the address, he was alleged to have made comments that critics believed were critical of certain minority communities, while appearing to support majoritarian viewpoints. Opponents argued that such remarks were at odds with the constitutional oath taken by judges, which requires commitment to secularism and equality.
Because judges hold a highly sensitive role in society, even a perception of bias can weaken public confidence in the judiciary, which is widely regarded as a pillar of democracy. In this case, the reported comments have triggered concerns about whether judicial neutrality is being upheld consistently.
According to the reports, Justice Yadav also claimed that “laws operate based on the majority.” That statement, in particular, has drawn heavy criticism from various quarters and has led to fears that the judiciary may not be viewed as neutral. His remarks on sensitive issues circulated widely on social media, following which backlash intensified.
The reports further state that during the event on December 8, Justice Yadav said that the Uniform Civil Code’s purpose is to “promote social harmony, gender equality, and secularism.”
However, his comments related to law functioning according to the majority reportedly sparked the strongest reactions, especially his claim:
“This is Hindustan, and this country would function as per the wishes of the ‘bahusankhyak’.”
The Supreme Court has reportedly sought details of the speech and is reviewing the matter. It is standard for a judge under scrutiny to present their side before the collegium, which is led by the Chief Justice of India.
Meanwhile, opposition leaders condemned the reported statements as “hate speech.” After the controversy, over 55 MPs from the Rajya Sabha filed an impeachment notice against him on Friday, escalating the political and institutional pressure surrounding the issue.
As criticism mounted, demands also grew to impeach Justice Yadav and withdraw his judicial work in the interim. The Campaign for Judicial Accountability and Reforms (CJAR) has additionally filed a complaint with the Chief Justice of India, seeking an in-house inquiry into the matter.
FOR MORE LEGAL UPDATES FOLLOW US ON YOUTUBE