Supreme Court Collegium Scrutinizes Justice Shekhar Yadav’s Controversial VHP Speech
Last Updated on December 18, 2024 by Amit Patra
In an unparalleled move that underlined how serious the judiciary is to the principles of ethics, Allahahbad High Court Judge Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav appeared before the Supreme Court Collegium to explain the controversial comments made during a program organized by Vishwa Hindu Parishad.
The high-level meeting comes after the speech delivered by Justice Yadav reportedly contained communally charged comments that the country would work on the wishes of the majority and used derogatory language for the Muslim community. The Collegium headed by CJI Sanjiv Khanna sought to grant an opportunity to Justice Yadav to explain his position in conformity with the principles of natural justice.
The controversy soon snowballed, with 55 Members of Parliament already moving an impeachment motion to the Rajya Sabha Secretary General. A Public Interest Litigation has also been filed in the Allahabad High Court challenging the remarks made by the judge, bringing into sharp focus the gravity of his speech.
The intervention of the Collegium marks an important moment in the judiciary’s constitutional integrity and neutrality. The Supreme Court’s action, in summoning Justice Yadav to give reasons for his utterances, will underline a certain sense in which no judicial functionary must ever make statements that are divisive or communally surcharged.
This unprecedented hearing underlines the precarious balance between judicial independence and the basic requirement for judicial impartiality, raising critical questions about the limits of judicial conduct in a diverse, democratic society.
