Former CJI Chandrachud confirms The Leaflet report of his opposition to the appointment of Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav
“Yes, as a consultee judge, I had strongly opposed his appointment as a judge of the Allahabad High Court. I have read @TheLeaflet.in's piece, where they have reported my letter. However, the collegium was not bound to accept my views,” tweeted Livelaw, quoting Justice Chandrachud.
Published on: 21 December 2024, 06:16 am
A day after The Leaflet published a story that former Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dr D.Y. Chandrachud had opposed the appointment of Allahabad High Court's Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav when he was a puisne judge of the Supreme Court, the former has confirmed to legal news portal Livelaw that he had indeed opposed the appointment of Justice Yadav.
“Yes, as a consultee judge, I had strongly opposed his appointment as a judge of the Allahabad High Court. I have read @TheLeaflet.in's piece, where they have reported my letter. However, the collegium was not bound to accept my views,” tweeted Livelaw, quoting Justice Chandrachud.
Justice Yadav is facing condemnation for using slurs against Muslims and for supporting the Uniform Civil Code while speaking at an event organised by Vishva Hindu Parishad.
As many as 55 Rajya Sabha members of Parliament (MP) have written to the Vice President, who is also the chairman of the Upper House of Parliament, to initiate steps to impeach Justice Yadav. Opposition MPs have also accused the judge of having “targeted minorities and displayed bias and prejudice against them” through his speech at the VHP event.
Justice Yadav is facing condemnation for using slurs against Muslims and for supporting the Uniform Civil Code while speaking at an event organised by Vishva Hindu Parishad.
The five-seniormost judges of the Supreme Court, including CJI Sanjiv Khanna, also summoned Justice Yadav on December 17, 2024 for an interaction in order to grant an opportunity to him to explain his position. Before meeting the judge, the Supreme Court also sought a report about the incident from the Allahabad High Court.
According to multiple reports, unconvinced with the judge’s explanation, the Supreme Court Collegium reportedly told him to be careful with his public utterances.
The CJI, Justice Sanjiv Khanna, also reportedly briefed the full court about the Supreme Court Collegium’s interaction with Justice Yadav. However, the matter is still not settled and the Supreme Court is adopting a wait-and-watch approach.
On September 25, 2018, a collegium comprising the then CJI Dipak Misra and Justices Ranjan Gogoi and Madan B. Lokur had deferred the proposal— along with other names— to appoint Yadav as a judge of the Allahabad High Court.
On February 12, 2019, a collegium comprising the then-CJI Ranjan Gogoi and Justices A.K. Sikri and S.A. Bobde recommended that the government appoint Yadav as an additional judge of the Allahabad High Court.
On December 12, 2019, Yadav was appointed as judge of the Allahabad High Court. Later, on March 5, 2021, a collegium headed by the then CJI S.A. Bobde recommended making Yadav a permanent judge of the Allahabad High Court.