From ‘cows release oxygen’ to ‘postponement of polling’: 5 times Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav in headlines

Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav, whose Election Commission “suggested” a ban on election rallies and postponement of the UP assembly elections due to the threat of Covid, is no stranger to such reported comments.

In his December 23 order in the bail plea, Justice Yadav not only called upon the Allahabad High Court administration to reduce the number of cases being heard in each courtroom, but also suggested that the Election Commission and the Government of India should hold political rallies. Banning and postponing should be considered. UP assembly elections due to the threat of Kovid.

Read also | Kovid-19: Consider delaying assembly elections, Allahabad HC tells government amid Omicron threat

He also included a paragraph praising the Modi government for the free COVID vaccination programme, and directed the registrar of the court to send a copy of its order along with suggestions to the Election Commission of India and the Registrar-General of the Allahabad High Court.

The case in which these “suggestions” were made pertained to the bail plea of ​​a person accused under the UP Organized Crime Prevention Act. The remarks were inspired by the throng of lawyers gathered in the courtroom and the large number of cases listed before the single-judge bench that day.

Justice Yadav had been in the news several times in the past for his additional remarks while delivering judgments in ordinary matters.

News made from the previous comments of Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav

On 1 September, the judge courted controversy by saying that “scientists believe the cow is the only animal that releases oxygen”. He also called upon Parliament to make cow the national animal and declare cow protection as a “fundamental right of Hindus”.

The remarks were made while rejecting the bail plea of ​​a person accused of theft and smuggling of cows under the UP Cow Slaughter Act.

The order included remarks about how Muslim rulers such as Akbar had banned cow slaughter, and that cow protection is “synonymous with Indian culture”. The order was widely reported and shared on social media.

Read also | Fundamental rights given to cow, declared as national animal: Allahabad High Court

The 57-year-old judge was elevated as an additional judge of the Allahabad High Court in December 2019 and took oath as a permanent judge in March 2021.

Prior to his promotion, he held the position of Standing Counsel for the State of Uttar Pradesh, Additional Standing Counsel for the Union of India and Standing Counsel for Railways in the courts of UP. He is presently a Judge of the Allahabad Bench of the High Court and an Administrative Judge of Kaushambi district.

In June, while hearing a bail plea of ​​a man accused of fraudulently withdrawing money from the bank account of a retired judge, Justice Yadav slammed the UP Police for “not taking cybercrime seriously”. He also sought a detailed report on the number of FIRs registered for cybercrime, status of investigation, money recovered and steps being taken to control such crime. It effectively expanded the hearing from a simple bail plea to automatic monitoring of cyber crime investigations in the state.

In October, Justice Yadav made another controversial “suggestion” in a judgment, asking the government to bring in a law to give “national honor and heritage status” to “Lord Rama, Lord Krishna, Ramayana, Bhagavad Gita, Maharishi Valmiki,” asked to consider. and Maharishi Ved Vyas”. He also remarked that “Lord Rama resides in the heart of every citizen and India is incomplete without him”.

He suggested that there should be “compulsory lessons in schools for children on the cultural heritage of India”. The comments came while granting bail to a man accused of “making obscene pictures” of deities.

Read also | Allahabad HC says oral sex with minor not ‘serious sexual assault’, sparks

The judge also commented on inter-religious marriage, citing Akbar and Jodhabai as “good examples” of inter-religious marriage, kidnapping and abducting a girl while hearing a bail plea of ​​an accused under UP’s anti-conversion law. Accused of forcibly converting to Islam. , He also observed that “if a person from the majority community converts from his religion after being insulted, the country becomes weak.” He also cited Dr BR Ambedkar as an example of a man converting to another religion due to “pain and humiliation”.

“We come across reports of poor, disabled and women being brainwashed by external sources. The worst part is that these practices are funded by elements from outside the country and are harming the nation as a whole. purpose of.” Justice Yadav passed in his order on July 20.