All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has officially requested key political parties to take a matter of principle against the offensive statement delivered by Allahabad High Court Judge Shekhar Yadav in a public address on 8 December 2024. According to the Board, the judge’s utterances contradict the secular ethos contained in the Indian Constitution.
AIMPLB’s Statement: A Call for Accountability
In a trenchant letter, Maulana Mohammad Fazlur Rahim Mujaddidi, AIMPLB General Secretary, spoke of profound disappointment at the failure to take corrective action during the six months since the incident. He pointed out with concern that the political leadership shows indifference to what he called a serious constitutional lapse.
“The political class’ silence over such a serious issue indicates a disturbing complacency,” the letter states.
The Controversial Comments
Justice Yadav, in his speech, claimed that India must be run on the will of the majority—a comment widely understood to derogate the rights of minority groups. He is also said to have made derogatory remarks about Muslims, causing widespread outrage and sharp condemnation on social media after the video went viral.
After the furore in the public, the Supreme Court of India took suo motu cognizance of the issue and directed the Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court to file a report.
A Threat to Constitutional Morality?
The AIMPLB, in its release, claimed that Justice Yadav’s comments equaled a subjective and biased definition of secularism that had been shaped by sectarian philosophies. Such an approach, the Board contended, was against the role and dignity required of a person holding a constitutional position.
Maulana Mujaddidi also said that the remarks of the judge ignore the very fundamental principle that India is a secular republic, in which all religions and cultural identities are accorded equal protection of the Constitution.
Agitation Over Political Indifference
Reflecting dismay at the continuing indifference of the mainstream political parties, the Board urged them to fulfill their constitutional obligation by bringing the matter through legislative and democratic means, such as debates in Parliament and other statutory platforms.
Elected members must transcend political expediency and address any discourse that aims to undermine the secular nature of our democratic system,” the letter stressed.
