New Delhi: A group of 55 Members of Parliament (MPs) has filed a formal notice seeking the impeachment of Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav, a judge of Allahabad High Court. The MPs allege that Justice Yadav made inflammatory statements amounting to hate speech, which they claim violated the principles of the Indian Constitution.
According to The Print, the notice was submitted to Rajya Sabha Secretary General P.C. Mody on Friday. Among the signatories were prominent leaders such as Vivek Tankha, Digvijay Singh, and K.T.S. Tulsi from Congress, P. Wilson of DMK, and John Brittas of CPI(M).
The controversy stems from remarks made by Justice Yadav during a VHP event held at Allahabad High Court premises on December 8. During his speech, he allegedly referred to Muslims as “Kathmulla” and described them as “fatal for the country”. He reportedly added, “You shouldn’t let this desire inside you die down… otherwise, it won’t take very long for [India] to become Bangladesh and Taliban. It is important to publicise it among people that they should recognise themselves and their religion.”
The MPs argue in their notice that these statements promote animosity and division among religious and communal groups, undermining the secular fabric of the Indian Constitution. They also reference the Restatement of Values of Judicial Life, a code of judicial ethics adopted by the Supreme Court in 1997, which mandates judges to uphold impartiality, equality, and restraint both within and outside the courtroom. The notice contends that Justice Yadav violated these principles by publicly expressing political views, particularly on contentious matters such as the Uniform Civil Code.
