PRAYAGRAJ, April 16 -- Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav of the Allahabad high court, whose allegedly controversial remarks at a Vishva Hindu Parishad legal cell event in Prayagraj in December 2024 led to a notice for impeachment by Rajya Sabha MPs at the time, on Wednesday said his words were twisted and that the fault lay with those who distorted them. "Those who twisted my speech were at fault, not me," said Justice Yadav who retired on Wednesday. He addressed a full court reference held on the occasion of his retirement in the courtroom of the chief justice. He thanked the members of the Bar for supporting him during that period, stating, " Another phase came, in which I had no fault, and during that, I got your support. Had I not received it, I would have broken". In his farewell speech, Justice Yadav strongly defended his impartiality on the bench. Looking at the advocates gathered at the event, he stated, "You are lawyers of every caste here, no person can say that I discriminated while delivering justice. I never differentiated between small or big lawyers, or lawyers of any caste." In his December 2024 speech, Justice Yadav had allegedly made certain controversial statements. The then Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna had summoned Justice Yadav and sought his explanation. A significant part of Justice Yadav's farewell speech was dedicated to advising the Bar members, particularly junior advocates, on courtroom conduct, drafting and professionalism. Stressing that mutual respect is the cornerstone of the legal profession, he said, "A judge is not a police inspector (daroga). Everyone should learn to be humble, regardless of whether they are a senior, a judge or a junior." "So even if the case is weak, the judge elevates it. If everything is good, but arguments are not good, appearance is not good, then the case goes down," he added. He expressed concern that juniors do not stand when seniors enter the courtroom. He also said that while people naturally respect lawyers, "some people are maligning the profession". Justice Yadav welcomed the increase in the number of women advocates. However, he urged junior women lawyers to take on more active roles in litigation rather than serving as proxies for senior lawyers. Justice Yadav also recalled his humble beginnings. He shared that he used to proudly ride his bicycle to his maternal home, thinking he was now an advocate in the high court and that he never thought he would one day become a judge. Concluding his address, Justice Yadav expressed his life-long indebtedness to the Allahabad high court advocates and judges. "I have never found the kind of love anywhere else that I received from all of you. I have only given love and received love. You only get what you give," he said as he concluded his speech by thanking the judges of the high court, the Bar members and his staff. Members of several Opposition parties on December 13, 2024, moved the notice in the Rajya Sabha for his impeachment. The notice was signed by 55 Opposition MPs. It had remained pending....