Allahabad High Court sitting judge, Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav said on Sunday that the country will function according to the wishes of the majority in India and questioned certain practices followed by Muslims.
Justice Yadav made the controversial remark while delivering a lecture on the Constitutional Necessity of Uniform Civil Code in an event organised by the legal cell of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) in Prayagraj, reported Live Law.
"I have no hesitation in saying that this is Hindustan, this country would function as per the wishes of the bahusankhyak living in Hindustan. This is the Law. You can't say that you are saying this being a High Court Judge," said the sitting judge in his speech.
"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” he said.
Justice Yadav raised questions about the Muslim community continuing the practice of polygamy when practices such as Untouchability, Sati, and Jauhar were abolished within Hinduism. He termed the practices observed by Muslims "unacceptable."
He further said that while women are revered as goddesses in Hindu scriptures like the Shastras and Vedas, members of a community still claim the right to have multiple wives, engage in Halala, and practice Triple Talaq.
Advocating for a unified civil law, he said the Uniform Civil Code would soon be implemented in the country.
"You can't disrespect a woman who has been recognized as a goddess in our Shastras and Vedas. You can't claim the right to have four wives, perform Halala, or practice Triple Talaq. You say we have the right to say 'triple talaq,' and not give maintenance to women. This right will not work," Justice Yadav said.
"UCC isn't something that VHP, RSS, or Hinduism advocates. The country's Top Court also talks about it...This is the historic library hall of the court, where so many great personalities have been. I am speaking here, among them... Not just saying. I am taking an oath that this country will definitely bring a single law, and it will bring it very soon", he added.
Communist Party of India (Marxist) shared a clip Justice Yadav's speech and asked the Supreme Court to take suo motu notice and sack him.
"His speech is akin to hate speech. #JusticeShekharYadav, a sitting judge of the #AllahabadHighCourt addressed a #VHP meeting. That he should do so is bad enough. That he should promote majoritarian views and communal hatred is unacceptable. #SupremeCourt should take suo moto notice and sack him," the party said in a post on X.