Allahabad HC Judge Shekhar Yadav retires amid political storm over controversial speech

New Delhi: Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav of the Allahabad High Court is set to retire on Wednesday, ending his tenure with a stalled impeachment case still unresolved. The move to impeach him in Parliament was triggered by a controversial speech he delivered in December 2024.

Journey to the High Court Bench

Before becoming a judge, Justice Yadav worked as an assistant government advocate. His appointment to the High Court faced some resistance within the judiciary. In October 2018, a Supreme Court Collegium led by Dipak Misra, along with Ranjan Gogoi and Madan B Lokur, decided to delay his elevation.

However, in February 2019, a new Collegium headed by Ranjan Gogoi and including A K Sikri and Sharad Bobde recommended his name. He was appointed as an additional judge in December 2019 and became a permanent judge in March 2021.

Remarks in Judgments Spark Debate

Justice Yadav drew attention for his views in several cases. In matters related to cow slaughter, he suggested that the government should declare the cow as the national animal and make cow protection a fundamental right for Hindus.

In October 2021, while granting bail in a case involving alleged offensive posts about Hindu deities, he suggested that Parliament should bring laws to honour figures like Ram and Krishna and texts such as the Ramayana and the Gita, along with their authors.

Controversial Speech and Backlash

The biggest controversy came from a speech delivered on December 8, 2024, at an event organised by Bharat Vikas Parishad on the High Court premises. While speaking on the Uniform Civil Code, Justice Yadav said that India should run according to the wishes of the majority. He was also accused of using offensive language against Muslims while criticising practices like triple talaq.

Calls for Action and Impeachment Move

After the speech, 13 senior lawyers from the Supreme Court wrote to then Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, asking for a CBI investigation.

The Supreme Court Collegium later summoned Justice Yadav and reportedly asked him to publicly apologise. However, he refused and stated that he stood by his remarks.

On December 13, 2024, 54 Opposition MPs in the Rajya Sabha submitted a notice to impeach him, accusing him of hate speech and promoting communal tension. At the same time, he received support from Yogi Adityanath.

Why the Impeachment Did Not Move Forward

The impeachment process did not progress due to issues with the submitted signatures. The Rajya Sabha Secretariat found mismatches and began verification.

By mid-2025, only 44 MPs had confirmed their signatures—short of the required 50 needed to take the process ahead.

End of Tenure

With Justice Yadav’s retirement, the impeachment issue will effectively come to a close, marking the end of a controversial chapter in his judicial career.