Allahabad High Court judge Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav is set to retire on Wednesday (April 15) while the impeachment motion against him remains pending for over a year.
Allahabad High Court Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav, whose remarks against Muslims during a Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) event sparked nationwide outrage, is set to retire on April 15, even as the impeachment proceedings initiated against him remain stalled.
The High Court will hold a full court reference on the same day to mark his retirement, bringing to a close a tenure that drew intense scrutiny in its final years.Justice Yadav took oath as an Additional Judge of the high court on December 12, 2019. On March 26, 2021 he was made a permanent judge of the high court.
On December 8, 2024 Justice Yadav had delivered a lecture on the Constitutional Necessity of Uniform Civil Code in an event organised by the legal cell of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) in Prayagraj. In the said lecture, he had said that he has no hesitation in saying that the country will function according to the wishes of the majority (bahusankhyak) in India and used the slur "kathm***a" in his speech which drew sharp criticism.
During the speech, delivered on the subject of the Uniform Civil Code, Justice Yadav asserted that India would function according to the will of the majority population.“I have no hesitation in stating that this is Hindustan, and this country will function according to the wishes of the majority living here…only what ensures the welfare and happiness of the majority will be accepted,” he had said.
The Supreme Court took note of the speech and called upon Justice Yadav to explain his stand.On December 13, 2014 a motion to impeach Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav was submitted to the Secretary General of Rajya Sabha which was signed by 55 Rajya Sabha MPs, which is beyond the limit of 50 MPs required to move an impeachment motion. Within days of the speech, efforts began in parliament to initiate impeachment proceedings against him. Rajya Sabha MP and Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal publicly announced that a removal motion would be moved against Justice Yadav.
While the motion for impeachment remains pending before the Rajya Sabha, Justice Yadav is set to retire tomorrow. A Full Court Reference will be held at the Allahabad High Court tomorrow on the occasion of his retirement.
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