On Sunday, December 8, Justice Shekhar Yadav, a sitting judge of the Allahabad High Court, delivered a lecture on the Constitutional Necessity of the Uniform Civil Code at an event organized by the legal cell of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) in Prayagraj. During his speech, he stated that he had no hesitation in asserting that the country will function according to the wishes of the majority (bahusankhyak) in India.
“I have no hesitation in saying that this is Hindustan; this country will function as per the wishes of the bahusankhyak living here. This is the law. You cannot criticize me for saying this as a High Court Judge. The law, in fact, operates according to the majority. You can even observe this principle in families or societies,” Justice Yadav said.
Justice Yadav questioned why practices like untouchability, Sati, and Jauhar were abolished in Hinduism, yet practices such as polygamy are still permitted in the Muslim community. He termed such practices as unacceptable.
He further noted that while Hindu scriptures such as the Shastras and Vedas revere women as goddesses, certain members of a community continue to defend practices like Halala, Triple Talaq, and polygamy. He stressed the need for a Uniform Civil Code (UCC), stating that since India has one Constitution and one set of penal laws, having a unified civil law is only logical.
“You cannot disrespect women, who are regarded as goddesses in our Shastras and Vedas. You cannot claim the right to have four wives, practice Halala, or use Triple Talaq. These rights will not work. The UCC is not something promoted solely by the VHP, RSS, or Hinduism; even the Supreme Court has spoken about it. I am not merely making a statement; I am taking an oath that this country will soon bring a single, unified law,” he declared.
At the beginning of his address, Justice Yadav emphasized his cultural roots, stating that his identity is incomplete without recognizing that he hails from the land where the Ganga flows. He described Indian culture as being deeply connected to the Gaay (cow), Ganga (River Ganges), and Geeta (Bhagavad Gita).
“Gaay, Geeta, aur Ganga jahan ki sanskriti hai; Harbola Devi ki pratima aur baccha-baccha Ram hai—aisa mera desh hai,” he said.
Justice Yadav also clarified that being Hindu is not limited to performing rituals like taking a dip in the Ganga or applying chandan (sandalwood paste). He stated that anyone who treats this land as their mother and is willing to sacrifice their life for it during crises—irrespective of whether they follow the Quran or the Bible—is a Hindu in spirit.
He acknowledged that Hindu society has had its share of social evils, including child marriage, Sati, and female infanticide. Reformers like Raja Ram Mohan Roy worked tirelessly to abolish these practices. However, he criticized the lack of similar initiatives within the Muslim community to address issues like Halala, Triple Talaq, or polygamy.
Justice Yadav also emphasized that while it is not expected for Muslims to adopt Hindu customs like taking seven rounds around a sacred fire during marriage or performing Hindu rituals, respecting the culture, traditions, and revered figures of this land is essential.
