The Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) on Wednesday urged all Members of Parliament to support action against an Allahabad High Court judge, who has been at the centre of controversy for delivering "hate speech" at a VHP function.

At the function organised by the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) on December 8, Justice Shekhar Yadav said the main aim of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) was to promote social harmony, gender equality, and secularism.

A day later, videos of the judge speaking on provocative issues, including the law working according to the majority, were circulated widely on social media, drawing strong reactions from several quarters, including opposition leaders who labelled Justice Yadav's reported remarks as "hate speech" and "breach of judicial ethics".

In a statement issued on Wednesday, CBCI, the apex body of Catholics in India, slammed Justice Yadav for his remarks that the country would function as per the wishes of the majority.

"Article 14 of the Constitution says the state shall not deny any person equality before law or equal protection of law within the territory of India. Yet, a few days ago it was reported that a judge of the Allahabad High Court said during a programme inside the court premises that this country would function as per the wishes of the majority, which is the 'law'," CBCI said in the statement.

"The comments were made during a function organised by an outfit that was reportedly responsible for communal violence in the past, according to some of the judicial commission reports," it added in a veiled reference to the VHP.

Justice Yadav made the remarks at a provincial convention of VHP's legal cell and high court unit in the Allahabad High Court last Sunday.

CBCI said the higher judiciary in India is entrusted with the duty to guard the Constitution, and judges are sworn in to uphold the Constitution and the laws sanctioned by it.

"The 'truth' to be upheld by the judges is not 'the wishes of the majority', but the 'Dharma' as has been sanctioned by the Constitution and engraved in the motto of the Indian judiciary -- 'Yato Dharmastato Jayah'... One who does not have faith in our Constitution and its morality should have nothing to do with the judiciary, much less be a judge," the statement said.