Incumbent Allahabad HC judges advocates for Uniform Civil Code at VHP event
New Delhi: Two sitting judges of the Allahabad High Court were reportedly part of a closed-door event hosted by the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) in Prayagraj on December 8, with one delivering a lecture on the contentious topic of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC). Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav, a serving judge known for his polarizing observations, argued that the UCC is a constitutional necessity aimed at promoting equality and social harmony, as reported by TheWire.in.
The gathering, held in the High Court library, was organised by the VHP’s legal cell of the “Kashi Prant” (Varanasi province) and featured discussions on topics such as the Waqf Act and religious conversions.
Government advocate A.K. Sand and Anil Tiwari, president of the High Court Bar Association, also addressed the audience, comprising members of the VHP's legal cell from various districts in Uttar Pradesh.
Justice Yadav, speaking on the UCC, emphasized the principles of gender equality and secularism, asserting that a unified legal framework would eliminate disparities across and within communities. His speech drew attention due to his past remarks endorsing Hindu religious and cultural elements.
Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav | PC: theWire
In 2021, Justice Yadav suggested that the cow be declared a national animal and that Hindu scriptures, including the Ramayana and the Gita, be honored as national treasures and taught in schools. He has also called for stringent anti-cow slaughter laws and even proposed deferring elections during the COVID-19 pandemic to protect public health.
The event sparked criticism, with senior lawyer Indira Jaising denouncing Justice Yadav’s participation as inappropriate for a sitting judge. “What a shame for a judge to engage in a politically charged event organized by a Hindu group,” she remarked.
The VHP’s national co-convenor, Abhishek Atrey, and other speakers addressed issues such as amendments to the Waqf Act and concerns over the protection of Hindu identity. Atrey alleged parallels between Bangladesh's political unrest and the treatment of minorities, urging unity to preserve cultural identity.
Justice Dinesh Pathak was reportedly scheduled to inaugurate the event, but his attendance remained unconfirmed. The involvement of high-ranking judicial figures in an event associated with a religious-political organization continues to raise questions about judicial impartiality and ethics.
PC: theWire
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Bengaluru jail introduces biometric tracking system for prisoners
Bengaluru: In a bid to curb misconduct and illegal activities inside Parappana Agrahara Central Prison, prison authorities have introduced a new ‘Prisoners Tracking Movement System’ under which inmates will have to undergo biometric verification while entering every barrack.
According to jail officials, biometric systems have been installed across all major sections of the prison, including barracks, visitor rooms, hospital, canteen, kitchen, library, playground, handicraft units and bakery sections. Staff members have also been deployed at these locations.
Officials said inmates visiting the visitors’ room must now obtain a digital token after biometric verification. Details such as the prisoner’s name, identification number and entry time will be updated in the prison software system. This will help authorities maintain a complete digital record of inmates visiting and returning from meeting rooms.
Similar systems have also been introduced at entry points of the hospital, library and other barracks accessed for work-related purposes. Officials said the system will help identify prisoners involved in suspicious or illegal activities with other inmates and enable authorities to track how much time a prisoner spends at different locations inside the prison.
Authorities stated that AI-powered cameras were already being used inside the prison to monitor inmates as well as prison staff. Along with this, digital tracking of prisoner phone calls and a digital token system for visitor meetings have now been added to strengthen surveillance over inmate movement. Officials said the project has been implemented at a cost of around Rs 2.25 crore.
The prison department has also introduced a canteen usage tracking system to monitor prisoners’ spending patterns. Instead of direct cash payments, inmates can purchase bakery items and snacks using wallets or coupons issued within the prison system.
Officials said the digital system will record details including the buyer’s name, items purchased, quantity, date, time and remaining wallet balance. This will allow prison authorities to maintain complete expenditure records of inmates.
