Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal has faced backlash for making public a recent meeting of retired judges organised by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), with the group's president, Alok Kumar, acknowledging it as a mistake.
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) termed the sharing of the images and topics discussed in a closed-door meeting it had held with the retired judges on social media by Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal as a mistake.
The VHP’s legal cell president Alok Kumar clarified that the event was intended as a private gathering to discuss issues related to India's betterment, emphasising that it was a closed-door meeting exclusively for former judges. He described Meghwal’s decision to publicise images from the event as an error.
The meeting, held on September 8, involved 30 retired Supreme Court and High Court judges and was conducted by the VHP’s legal cell. Meghwal, who attended the gathering, had posted about it on social media, stating that he engaged in discussions about legal reforms aimed at developing India.
The discussions reportedly covered a range of topics including the Waqf Amendment Bill, temple management, and laws related to conversions, with some focus on nationalism and Hindutva.
The VHP has been actively involved in legal cases related to Hindutva ideologies. Recent judicial decisions have significantly impacted issues such as the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya and the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi, with VHP members participating in various litigations, scroll.in reported.
Concerns have been raised about judicial impartiality following the appointment of retired judge Ajaya Krishna Vishvesha as the Lokpal of a university in Lucknow. Vishvesha’s previous judicial decisions, including allowing Hindu prayers in the Gyanvapi mosque's sealed basement, have sparked debates about the independence of the judiciary.
Moreover, court rulings have influenced the implementation of anti-conversion laws in states governed by the BJP, drawing criticism from activists and legal experts for allegedly infringing on religious freedoms.