Rarely has a judge offended sensibilities as Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav, of the Allahabad High Court, has. In a speech delivered at a Vishwa Hindu Parishad function, he upheld the principle of majoritarianism, spoke in Hindu supremacist tones, and accused the “kathmullahs”, or fanatical Muslim clerics, of being detrimental to the nation.

Yadav has been blasé about flaunting his ideological sympathies. In 2021, he wanted the Constitution to incorporate “cow protection as a fundamental right of Hindus.” The same year, he lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi during, of all matters, a bail hearing, for providing free anti-COVID vaccination to the country.