HC judge's speech sparks massive political uproar

PRAYAGRAJ: A controversial speech by a sitting Allahabad high court judge sparked a political row on Monday as Opposition parties urged Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna to take cognisance of the issue even as the organisers of the event defended the proceedings.

- HT Correspondent

Video clips of Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav speaking at the regional convention of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad's legal cell in Prayagraj on the Uniform Civil Code on Sunday went viral on social media and were widely reported, sparking a row.

In the video clips, Justice Yadav could be heard making a number of controversial comments about majority rule in India and the Muslim community, and allegedly used slurs. HT did not independently verify the authenticity of the video clips.

"This is Hindustan, and this country would function as per the wishes of the 'bahusankhyak'," he allegedly said.

Opposition MPs, including Trinamool Congress's Mahua Moitra and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen's Asaduddin Owaisi, criticised the judge. The Samajwadi Party and the Uttar Pradesh unit of the Congress urged CJI Khanna to take cognisance of the statements.

"This 'speech' can be easily rebutted, but it's more important to remind his honour that the Constitution of India expects judicial independence & impartiality," Owaisi said.

Delivering a lecture on the constitutional necessity of Uniform Civil Code at an event organised by the legal cell of the VHP, Justice Yadav allegedly said, "I have no hesitation in saying that this is Hindustan, this country would function as per the wishes of the bahusankhyak [majority] living in Hindustan. This is the Law. You can't say that you are saying this being a High Court Judge. The law, in fact, works according to the majority. Look at it in the context of family or society...Only what benefits the welfare and happiness of the majority will be accepted."