Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav Retires from Allahabad High Court Amid Pending Impeachment
Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav of the Allahabad High Court officially retired on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. His departure from the bench comes at a contentious moment, as he leaves behind a stalled impeachment motion in Parliament triggered by a controversial speech delivered in late 2024.
The Impeachment Controversy
The primary cloud over Justice Yadav’s retirement is a pending motion seeking his removal from office. The proceedings were initiated following a speech he delivered in December 2024 at an event organized by an RSS-affiliated organization. Opposition members sought his impeachment, alleging that the remarks constituted “hate speech.”
Throughout the controversy, Justice Yadav maintained that he was not at fault, claiming that those who twisted his words were the ones responsible for the outcry. Despite the gravity of the allegations, the impeachment proceedings remained pending and failed to move forward before his scheduled retirement date.
Notable Judicial Remarks
Beyond the impeachment row, Justice Yadav’s tenure was marked by several high-profile observations and suggestions regarding religion and national identity:
- Cow Protection: In various orders concerning cow slaughter, Justice Yadav suggested that the Union government should declare the cow as the national animal and establish cow protection as a fundamental right for Hindus.
- Honoring Deities: In October 2021, while granting bail to an individual accused of posting content against Hindu deities, he suggested that Parliament should enact a law to honor the deities Ram and Krishna, the Ramayana, the Gita, and the authors Valmiki and Ved Vyas.
Career Path and Elevation to the Bench
Justice Yadav’s journey to the High Court was not without its hurdles. A graduate in Law from Allahabad University in 1988, he enrolled as an advocate on September 8, 1990. He spent years practicing in the Civil and Constitutional sides of the Allahabad High Court, serving as an Additional Government Advocate, Standing Counsel for the State, and Senior Counsel for both the Union of India and the Railways. He also served as the Standing Counsel for V.B.S. Purvanchal University, Jaunpur.
His appointment to the bench saw a shift in judicial consensus. In October 2018, a Collegium led by then-CJI Dipak Misra deferred his proposal for elevation. However, in February 2019, a new Collegium led by CJI Ranjan Gogoi recommended his appointment. Justice Yadav took the oath as an Additional Judge on December 12, 2019, and was confirmed as a Permanent Judge on March 26, 2021.
- Retirement Date: April 15, 2026.
- Core Conflict: Retired while a Parliament impeachment motion regarding a December 2024 speech remained pending.
- Judicial Stance: Advocated for the legal recognition of cow protection as a fundamental right and the legislative honoring of Hindu deities.
- Appointment: Elevated as an Additional Judge in December 2019 after an initial deferral by the Collegium in 2018.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav facing impeachment?
The impeachment motion was based on a speech he delivered in December 2024 at an event hosted by an RSS-affiliated organization, which critics and opposition members characterized as hate speech.
Did the impeachment process conclude?
No. The impeachment proceedings remained stalled and pending in Parliament. Because Justice Yadav reached his mandatory retirement date of April 15, 2026, the motion effectively ended without a final resolution on his removal.
What was the Collegium’s initial stance on his appointment?
The Collegium under CJI Dipak Misra initially deferred the proposal to elevate Justice Yadav in October 2018, though he was later recommended for appointment by a subsequent Collegium led by CJI Ranjan Gogoi in February 2019.