120 MPs from the DMK-led INDIA bloc have moved an impeachment motion against Madras High Court Judge Justice GR Swaminathan over his Karthigai Deepam verdict, igniting a major political and judicial confrontation in Tamil Nadu.
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CHENNAI: In an ongoing tension between the Tamil Nadu state government and the judiciary, 120 Members of Parliament (MPs) from the DMK and its INDIA bloc allies have submitted an impeachment motion against Madras High Court Judge Justice GR Swaminathan. The notice, handed over to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, accuses the judge of conduct “detrimental to judicial impartiality,” igniting a heated political debate across the state and the nation.
Impeachment Motion
A delegation including DMK parliamentary party leader Kanimozhi, Lok Sabha leader TR Baalu, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, and Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra formally submitted the impeachment notice to the Speaker. Copies have also been forwarded to the President of India and the Chief Justice of India.
The motion invokes Article 217 read with Article 124 of the Constitution of India, which governs the removal of a High Court judge. The MPs allege that Justice Swaminathan’s rulings show favoritism toward a particular community and appear influenced by political ideology, undermining judicial neutrality and secular principles.
Thiruparankundram Verdict
The impeachment bid comes in the wake of Justice Swaminathan’s order allowing devotees to light the Karthigai Deepam lamp atop Thiruparankundram Hill in Madurai. The site is sensitive, as it contains both a temple and a nearby dargah.
The court directed that the ritual could proceed, stating it would not infringe on the religious rights of the Muslim community. A small group of devotees, escorted by security personnel, was permitted to carry out the lighting.
However, the Tamil Nadu government refused to implement the directive, citing potential law-and-order issues. The refusal led to protests by pro-Hindu groups, escalating tensions on the ground.
The impeachment motion has drawn strong criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Former Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai condemned the move on social media, calling it a display of “anti-Hindu credentials” and an example of “minority appeasement politics.”
Annamalai warned that the motion sets a dangerous precedent, suggesting that judicial verdicts could be challenged through political pressure, undermining constitutional values.
Supreme Court Intervention
Meanwhile, the legal battle has reached the Supreme Court of India. The state government filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) challenging the Madras High Court’s order regarding the lighting of the Karthigai Deepam lamp. The apex court has agreed to hear the matter, keeping the political and judicial tussle under the national spotlight.
Background: Karthigai Deepam at Thiruparankundram
Karthigai Deepam is an integral part of Tamil Hindu culture, celebrated annually by lighting of a sacred lamp atop Thiruparankundram Hill. The ritual holds historical and cultural significance and is traditionally performed by a small group of devotees.
The Madras High Court’s directive to facilitate the ritual while ensuring security underscores the delicate balance between religious practices and law-and-order considerations in the state.
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