The comments made by the sitting judge have led to demands that he be impeached and judicial work be withdrawn from him in the meantime
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – Taking a serious note of the anti-Muslim remarks of Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav of the Allahabad High Court who asserted that the country would operate according to the wishes of the majority population and his use of the term “kathmullah,” a derogatory slur against Muslims, the Supreme Court Collegium has summoned him for a meeting.
Justice Yadav sparked controversy on December 8 after delivering a speech at an event in Prayagraj under the aegis of the legal cell of the Hindu right-wing organisation Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP).
Two days later, the top court took note of the controversy, with its administrative side calling for details from Allahabad High Court.
According to media reports, the collegium, headed by Chief Justice of India Sanjeev Khanna, is set to meet on Tuesday (December 17) before the top court’s winter break to deliberate on the matter.
The comments made by the sitting judge have led to demands that he be impeached and judicial work be withdrawn from him in the meantime.
The Campaign for Judicial Accountability and Reforms (CJAR) has filed a formal complaint with the Chief Justice of India (CJI) demanding an in-house inquiry against Justice Yadav.
Notably, on December 12, Allahabad High Court announced a major change in the roster of Justice Yadav. Effective Monday (December 16), he will only be hearing first appeals – cases arising out of orders passed by district courts, and that too only those filed up to 2010.
Justice Yadav’s comments were condemned across political and legal circles, with critics describing them as a violation of judicial impartiality. Advocate Prashant Bhushan and CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat wrote to Chief Justice Khanna, asserting that the remarks breach the judge’s oath of office.
The Bar Association of India also passed a resolution condemning the judge’s remarks and urged the Supreme Court to address the issue “in a stern and emphatic manner.”
“The Bar Association of India calls upon the judge to retract his statements and tender a suitable apology for his remarks and urges the Chief Justice of India and companion judges of the Supreme Court to deal with this issue in a stern and emphatic manner. It also emphasises that events conducted by organisations not concerned with the administration of justice as a matter of principle should not be permitted on any court premises,” it said.
Moreover, Members of Parliament led by Kapil Sibal have submitted an impeachment motion to the Rajya Sabha Secretary General. The motion, signed by 55 MPs, is expected to be taken up during the ongoing Parliament session.