Allahabad HC Judge Steps Down from Ram Temple Seminar at Kumbh Mela Amid ‘Hate Speech’ Controversy

Allahabad, January 18, 2025: Justice Shekhar Yadav of the Allahabad High Court has decided to withdraw from delivering the keynote address at a seminar on the Ram temple movement at the Kumbh Mela area, scheduled for January 22. His decision follows the controversy surrounding his speech at a VHP event in December, which sparked accusations of hate speech.

The seminar, titled “Rashtriya Sangoshthi: Ram Mandir Aandolan aur Gorakshpeeth,” was organized to commemorate the first anniversary of the consecration ceremony of Lord Ram Lalla at the Ayodhya temple. Justice Yadav had initially agreed to participate, but he later informed the organizing committee that he would be unable to attend due to the seminar being held on a working day. Shashi Prakash Singh, the seminar convener, confirmed this development, explaining that members of the organizing committee had initially secured Justice Yadav’s consent. However, the judge’s professional commitments on January 22 led him to withdraw from the event.

Along with Justice Yadav, senior RSS pracharak Ashok Bery and senior VHP leader Bade Dinesh Ji Singh are also scheduled to address the seminar. The event aims to celebrate the progress of the Ram Mandir movement and its cultural significance.

The controversy surrounding Justice Yadav’s involvement in the seminar traces back to his remarks made during a VHP event on December 8, 2024. At that event, Justice Yadav commented on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), stating that its primary purpose was to promote social harmony, gender equality, and secularism. However, his speech took a more provocative turn, and videos of the event began circulating on social media the following day. In these videos, Justice Yadav’s comments were widely interpreted as controversial, leading many opposition leaders to criticize his statements as inflammatory and potentially harmful. They labeled his remarks as “hate speech,” a term that sparked strong reactions across political and social spectrums.

The outcry over his statements led to intervention from the Supreme Court. On December 10, 2024, the apex court took note of the media reports surrounding Justice Yadav’s speech. The court ordered a report from the Allahabad High Court and asked the judge to clarify his remarks in front of the Supreme Court collegium, which was led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna.

Justice Yadav’s decision to withdraw from the Kumbh Mela seminar further complicates his standing in the ongoing public debate. His involvement in such politically charged events, combined with his controversial remarks, has placed him at the center of a judicial and political storm. This incident also raises important questions about the role of judges in public discourse, particularly when their statements appear to influence or align with political agendas.

As the matter continues to unfold, Justice Yadav’s case may have significant implications for how the judiciary, especially high court judges, are expected to engage with public events and discussions that touch on sensitive political and religious issues.

For now, the Kumbh Mela seminar will go ahead as planned, albeit without the participation of Justice Yadav. The event’s organizers are focused on ensuring the continued celebration of the Ram Mandir movement while also navigating the fallout from the recent controversy.

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