At the center of an impeachment motion in the Rajya Sabha where the opposition has accused him of “hate speech” and “inciting communal disharmony”, Allahabad High Court judge Shekhar Kumar Yadav has been summoned by the Supreme Court collegium for a meeting next week. The Indian Express has learned. The meeting may begin as early as December 17.
The collegium is headed by Chief Justice of India Sanjeev Khanna.
On December 10, the Supreme Court took note of Justice Yadav’s allegedly controversial speech at an event organized by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s legal cell and sought “explanations” from the high court.
On 13 December, 55 opposition MPs in the Rajya Sabha gave notice to move an impeachment motion against him.
“The collegium’s call for a meeting with Justice Yadav is being viewed as part of the court’s internal process… What action, if any, will depend on the meeting,” an official here said.
Judge Yadav is retiring as a High Court judge in April 2026.
Addressing a program organized by the VHP’s legal cell at the Allahabad High Court Bar Association library last Sunday, Justice Yadav framed the Uniform Civil Code as a Hindu versus Muslim debate where the former brought reforms. was not
“There is a misconception that if the law (UCC) is introduced, it will be against your Shariah, your Islam and your Quran,” Justice Yadav said. “But I would like to say one more thing… whether it is your personal law, our Hindu law, your Koran or it is our Gita, as I said we have addressed evil (buraiyan) in our practice… kamiyan thi, dundrat kar. lie hain (weakness is addressed) … untouchability… sati, jauhar… female feticide… we have addressed all those issues… then why can’t you remove his law… that when you have first wife… you can have three wives… with his permission Without… that is not acceptable.”
Justice Yadav said that there is a seed of tolerance in Hinduism which is not present in Islam. “We are taught… not to kill even an ant. Perhaps that is why we are tolerant and generous. It’s hard to see someone’s pain…It’s painful to see someone’s pain…but it doesn’t happen inside you.… Why? Because in our community, when a child is born, they are taught about God, Vedas and Mantras from a very young age… told about non-violence… lAnimals are kept here from childhood and kept in front of them ka (animals are killed in the presence of children in your community)… tOh aap kaise expecta hai ki tolleran hoga wo…Udar hoga wo (How do you expect people to be tolerant, kind?)
House vs. In-house
The SC’s move came even as 55 Rajya Sabha MPs sent a notice for impeachment motion to Justice Yadav on December 13. Given the NDA numbers in both houses, it seems like a non-starter. So how the SC deals with it is important.
Justice Yadav said, ‘I have no hesitation in saying that this is Hindustan and the country runs on the basis of the majority living in Hindustan. He said, ‘The law follows the will of the majority, if you look at the family or the society, the will of the majority is stronger’.
Opposition parties have strongly criticized these expressions. In a letter to CJI Khanna, CPM leader and former MP Vrinda Karat wrote: “No complainant can expect justice in a court that has such a biased, prejudiced, publicly biased view against the minority community and in favor of the majority approach.”
The Vice President of India (Speaker of the Rajya Sabha) can accept or reject the notice of impeachment of the opposition.
If accepted, a three-member committee — two judges and a jurist — will be formed to investigate the complaint and determine whether it is appropriate to initiate impeachment. Since a complaint has been filed against a judge of the High Court, this committee will consist of one judge of the Supreme Court and the Chief Justice of the High Court.
According to Article 124 (4), the impeachment motion must be supported by a majority of the total number of members of the House and not less than two-thirds of the members present and voting. Both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Given the NDA’s strength in both houses, the impeachment motion is unlikely to be passed in either the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha.
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