Justice Shekhar Yadav likely to appear before SC Collegium over comments at VHP event
New Delhi (PTI): Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav, who purportedly made controversial statements at a VHP function, is likely to appear before the Supreme Court Collegium soon to explain his stand on the controversy.
The top court on December 10 took note of news reports over the statements and sought a report from the Allahabad High Court on the entire issue.
"The Supreme Court has taken note of newspaper reports of a speech given by Mr Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav, a sitting judge of the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad. The details and particulars have been called from the high court and the matter is under consideration," an official statement had said.
As per the established practices, the judge, against whom a report is sought by the apex court Collegium on any controversial issue from the high court concerned, is given an opportunity to put forth his or her version before the top court Collegium headed by the Chief Justice of India (CJI).
Apex court sources said the Allahabad High Court judge is likely to be asked to appear and put forth his version as per established practices.
At a Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) function on December 8, Justice Yadav said the main aim of the uniform civil code was to promote social harmony, gender equality and secularism.
He was addressing a provincial convention of the legal cell and high court unit of the VHP in 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 on social media, prompting strong reactions from several quarters, including opposition leaders who questioned his reported statements, labelling it as "hate speech".
Lawyer and convenor of Campaign for Judicial Accountability and Reforms, an NGO, Prashant Bhushan on Tuesday wrote to CJI Sanjiv Khanna seeking an "in-house enquiry" into the conduct of the Allahabad HC judge.
Bhushan claimed the judge breached judicial ethics and violated the constitutional principles of impartiality and secularism.
According to Bhushan, the remarks undermined the judiciary's role as a neutral arbiter and eroded public trust in its independence.
"A strong institutional response is needed to restore public faith in the judiciary," the letter said, adding, "We call upon your office sir (the CJI) to restore the faith of the people in the institution of judiciary by immediately setting up an in-house committee to enquire into acts of judicial impropriety by Justice Yadav and by withdrawing all judicial work from Justice Yadav," Bhushan wrote.
On December 8, CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat also wrote to the CJI calling the judge's speech a violation of his oath, saying "no place for such persons in a court of justice".
Karat sought action from the apex court on the issue.
Similarly, the Bar Association of India passed a resolution condemning the statements of the high court judge.
"The Bar Association of India calls upon the judge to retract his statements and tender a suitable apology for his remarks and urges the Chief Justice of India and companion judges of the Supreme Court to deal with this issue in a stern and emphatic manner. It also emphasises that events conducted by organisations not concerned with the administration of justice as a matter of principle should not be permitted on any court premises," it said.
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BSP chief Mayawati urges parties to support ONOE bills; slams SP, Cong on reservation issue
Lucknow, Dec 15: BSP chief Mayawati on Sunday attacked the Congress and the Samajwadi Party, saying they should not speak on reservations as they colluded in opposing legislation giving quota in promotions to Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) when the Congress-led UPA was in power.
Addressing a press conference, she also backed the Centre's bills on 'one nation- one election', stressing it will reduce expenses and ensure public welfare works continue uninterrupted. She urged other parties to also support the measure.
Mayawati demanded that reservations for SC, ST and OBC be included in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution to prevent any tampering. Central and state laws listed in the Ninth Schedule are exempt from judicial review.
During the discussion on the Constitution in Lok Sabha, the ruling side and the opposition, especially the Congress and the Samajwadi Party, to woo Dalit and OBC voters, have said a lot of "baseless" things about reservation issue in which there is "not even an iota of truth", she told reporters.
"And it would have been better if these two parties (Congress, SP) had remained silent on this issue in Parliament, because during the time of the Congress party's government at the Centre and with the connivance of this party, SP had strongly opposed the Constitutional Amendment Bill related to reservations in promotion of SC and ST communities.
"This bill was torn and thrown away by SP in the Parliament itself and ... is still pending in the Parliament," she lamented.
The BSP chief also targeted the ruling BJP and said, "The anti-reservation mentality of the BJP is also clearly visible, due to which they are in no mood to get the bill passed.''
Mayawati said that there was a heated discussion in the Parliament on the 'glorious journey of 75 Years of the Constitution of India'.
"But its usefulness is possible only when it is accepted with an open mind whether the ruling class has been able to provide employment and justice, a life of self-respect and self-esteem to crores of people of the country as per the sacred intention of the humanitarian and welfare Constitution," she said.
The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said that the Constitution has not failed but the people and parties ruling the country have failed the Constitution of the country with their "narrow thinking and casteist politics".
Mayawati also said that the "resolutions" being taken by the current BJP government are not going to benefit the people of the country.
She said if the government makes amendments to the Constitution to benefit a party or any particular person or institution, "then our party will strongly oppose it".
Mayawati said being the party of the poor and the oppressed, the BSP welcomes the related bills brought by the BJP government regarding 'one nation, one election'.
It would be better for all the parties to rise above party politics and work in the interest of the country and the general public on this issue, she said.
The BSP has faced a steady electoral decline in recent years and has only one Rajya Sabha MP in Parliament.
