New Delhi, Dec 10: Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Tuesday said Allahabad High Court Judge Shekhar Yadav, who made controversial remarks at a VHP function, has violated his oath of office by making a "hate speech" and asserted that he along with other opposition MPs will submit a notice to bring a motion to impeach the judge.
Sources said opposition MPs are likely to submit the notice in the next few days.
The judge made the remarks on Sunday while addressing a provincial convention of the Legal Cell and High Court Unit of the Vishva Hindu Parishad in the Allahabad High Court.
A day later, videos of the judge speaking on provocative issues, including the law working according to the majority, were circulated widely, triggering a strong reaction from various opposition parties that questioned his reported statements and labelled them hate speech.
"Any judge who makes such a statement is violating his oath of office. If he is violating the oath of office he has no right to sit on that chair," Sibal said at a press conference.
"If a high court judge can make a speech like this then the question arises how do such people get appointed in the first place. The question also arises how do they get the courage to make such remarks. Question also arises why these things are happening in the last 10 years," the senior advocate said.
Sibal said the Supreme Court has the power to stop such people from sitting on that chair and till then it should be ensured that no case comes before him.
The Rajya Sabha MP's remarks made before the Supreme Court on Tuesday called for details from the Allahabad High Court after taking note of news reports of the speech of Justice Yadav, a sitting high court judge, delivered at a VHP function.
"I have spoken to some fellow leaders Digvijaya Singh (Congress), Vivek Tankha (Congress), Manoj Jha (RJD), Javed Ali (SP), and John Brittas (CPI(M), we will soon meet and we will bring an impeachment motion against the judge. There is no other way. This is hate speech in every sense of the word," Sibal said.
Veteran lawyer Sibal had read out the impeachment motion against Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra in 2018 and had also defended Supreme Court judge V. Ramaswami in 1993 when he faced an impeachment motion over charges of financial impropriety.
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Gandhinagar: In what critics have termed a collective punishment, the Gujarat administration has demolished 186 commercial structures in Gandhinagar district’s Bahiyal village, allegedly belonging to individuals accused of participating in a communal clash during the recent Navratri celebrations.
The demolition, carried out on Thursday under heavy police deployment, followed a September 24 incident in which a social media post reportedly triggered tensions between communities, leading to stone pelting and property damage. Officials claimed that the razed establishments were “illegal constructions” linked to those involved in the violence.
According to Gandhinagar Superintendent of Police Ravi Teja Vasamsetty, the authorities identified the properties as part of an “encroachment removal drive.”
“Today, 186 business establishments in Dahegam taluka were demolished. We have identified illegal properties belonging to those involved in last month’s disturbances. Nearly 50 of the accused are habitual offenders,” he said.
Over 300 police personnel were deployed during the operation, which took place in the presence of sub-divisional magistrates and panchayat officials.
However, rights groups and local residents have raised serious concerns over the timing and intent of the demolition, arguing that it amounts to extra-judicial retribution targeting a particular community. Critics say such “bulldozer justice” bypasses due legal process and deepens existing fault lines instead of restoring peace.
The September 24 violence, which erupted over an objectionable social media post, had resulted in extensive damage to shops and vehicles. Police detained around 60 people, alleging that over 200 individuals were involved in the unrest.