Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav of the Allahabad High Court, embroiled in a controversy over his recent speech, has been called by the Supreme Court Collegium for a crucial meeting scheduled on December 17. The meeting, led by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, follows close on the heels of a notice for a motion of impeachment against Justice Yadav issued by 55 Opposition MPs in the Rajya Sabha, citing his controversial speech as a basis for potential incitement to communal disharmony.
The controversy stemmed from remarks made by Justice Yadav at an event organized by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s legal cell, held at the library of the Allahabad High Court Bar Association. In his speech, Justice Yadav addressed the contentious issue of the Uniform Civil Code, portraying it as a point of contention between Hindus, who he claimed have undertaken social reforms, and Muslims, who he suggested have not.
Justice Yadav criticized the Muslim community’s resistance to the Uniform Civil Code, arguing that fears it would undermine Islamic tenets are misplaced. He detailed various reforms made within Hindu law over the years, such as the abolition of practices like untouchability and sati, and questioned why similar progress had not been made regarding Islamic practices like polygamy without the consent of the first wife.
Furthermore, Justice Yadav made comparisons between the religious teachings of Hinduism and Islam, suggesting that Hindu teachings promote non-violence and tolerance, which he claimed were absent in Islamic teachings. These remarks led to a backlash from various quarters, with accusations that his statements could undermine the impartiality required from a judge.
