Who is Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav? How the judge has courted controversy in the past

Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav of the Allahabad High Court sparked a controversy on Sunday after delivering a speech at an event organised by the legal cell of Hindu right-wing organisation Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP)..During his lecture on the Uniform Civil Code, Justice Yadav made controversial remarks asserting that India will operate according to the wishes of the majority population.“I have no hesitation in stating that this is Hindustan, and this country will function according to the wishes of the majority living here. This is the law. It is not about speaking as a High Court Judge; rather, the law operates in accordance with the bahusankyak (majority). Consider this in the context of a family or society – only what ensures the welfare and happiness of the majority will be accepted.” The judge made a series of other controversial remarks during his speech, including the use of the term "kathmullah," a derogatory slur against Muslims.He referred to extremists as "kathmullah" and suggested that the country should remain cautious about them..Here, we delve into the background of the judge and how he has courted controversy before..Who is Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav? .Justice Yadav currently serves as a judge of the Allahabad High Court. Born on April 16, 1964, he pursued his legal education at Allahabad University, graduating in 1988 with a law degree. He enrolled as an advocate in 1990, beginning a legal career primarily focused on civil and constitutional law at the Allahabad High Court. He worked as an Additional Government Advocate and Standing Counsel for the State of Uttar Pradesh and later took on the responsibilities of Additional Chief Standing Counsel. He also served as Senior Panel Counsel for the Union of India and the Railways and represented VBS Purvanchal University, Jaunpur as its Standing Counsel.On December 12, 2019, Justice Yadav was appointed as an additional judge of the Allahabad High Court. He was confirmed as a permanent judge on March 26, 2021. His retirement date is April 15, 2026. .Courting controversy.Apart from making remarks made outside court, Justice Yadav has coloured some of his judgments with ideological overtones. In October 2021, he urged the Central government to introduce a law to honour Lord Ram, Lord Krishna, the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, the Bhagavad Gita and others. While granting bail in that case, he referred to the Supreme Court's decision in the Ram Janmabhoomi dispute and said it was in favour of those who believe in "Ram"."Ram resides in the heart of every citizen of this country, he is the soul of India. The culture of this country is incomplete without Rama," Justice Yadav added.Justice Shekhar Yadav also stressed that along with bringing a law to honour Lord Krishna and Ram, there is a "need to educate children by making it a compulsory subject in all the schools of the country because only through education a person becomes cultured and becomes aware of his life values and his culture..In September 2021, he said that the government should bring a law to include cows within the scope of fundamental rights under Part III of the Constitution and enact strict laws to punish those who talk about harming cows.While denying bail to an accused charged under the Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act in Uttar Pradesh, he observed that the cow is part and parcel of the culture of India and should be declared the national animal.“The work of cow protection is not only of one religious sect, but the cow is the culture of India, and the work of saving the culture is of every citizen living in the country irrespective of religion.....Jab gaaye ka kalyaan hoga, tabhi desh ka kalyaan hoga (only if the cow is revered, the country will prosper),” he observed..In the same order, he stated that scientists believe the cow is the only animal that both inhales and exhales oxygen..In July 2021, while denying bail to a man accused of unlawfully converting a woman to Islam, Justice Yadav observed that there is no place for religious fanaticism, greed, or fear in the country, and if a person from the majority community converts to another religion after being insulted, then the country becomes weak, allowing destructive powers to benefit..The judge's latest comments have drawn widespread criticism. Many have raised serious concerns over his judicial impartiality and adherence to constitutional values..Senior Advocate Rebecca John expressed strong disapproval of Justice Yadav’s recent speech on social media, stating, “The normalisation of speeches by judges contrary to their oath of office has been going on for a while. Organisations such as the Adhivakta Parishad (the legal wing of the RSS) were not given much space in the early years of my legal career. Today, they host judges from all courts who willingly attend their functions and participate in their events. Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav of the Allahabad High Court has not only participated in an event hosted by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, but has made a speech which borders on hate speech and violates every line of his oath of office. It throws up the obvious question as to how the Supreme Court Collegium recommended his name in the first place and how it plans to deal with him now. His speech is an assault on the constitution and should be an impeachable offence."She added,“But, nothing will happen and that is what makes this all very disturbing. The Constitutional Secular Republic has ceased to exist. Long ago.".Follow Bar and Bench channel on WhatsAppDownload the Bar and Bench Mobile app for instant access to the latest legal news.