Tue Jun 24 16:11:27 UTC 2025: **News Article:**

**Rajya Sabha Scrutinizes Signatures on Motion to Remove Allahabad High Court Judge Over “Hate Speech” Allegations**

**New Delhi, June 24, 2025:** The Rajya Sabha Secretariat is currently verifying the signatures of Members of Parliament (MPs) who endorsed a notice seeking the removal of Allahabad High Court judge Shekhar Kumar Yadav. The motion stems from allegations of “hate speech” delivered by Justice Yadav at a Vishwa Hindu Parishad event last year.

Out of the 55 MPs who initially signed the notice, the signatures of 44 have been verified to date. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who initiated the motion, along with nine other MPs, are still awaiting verification. Sibal has voiced concerns regarding the delay in processing the notice, which was submitted on December 13, 2024, and stated he had not received any communication requesting verification. The Secretariat disputes this, claiming email reminders were sent to his official address.

Adding a layer of complexity, one signatory, Sarfaraz Ahmed (JMM MP), reportedly had his signature appear twice on the document. Ahmed has confirmed signing only once, prompting an investigation into potential forgery.

Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar has emphasized the importance of signature verification for procedural compliance. He addressed the issue in the last Parliament session, stating that the process would move swiftly once all verifications were complete.

The removal of a High Court judge requires a two-thirds majority in both Houses of Parliament, followed by Presidential assent. The Constitution mandates rigorous procedures for such proceedings. The possibility of further inquiry by the Ethics Committee or Privileges Committee has not been ruled out, especially concerning the alleged forged signature.

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