In a dramatic escalation of its confrontation with the judiciary, the DMK-led INDI Alliance on December 9(Monday) submitted a representation to the Lok Sabha Speaker seeking the removal of Justice G.R. Swaminathan of the Madras High Court under Article 217 read with Article 124 of the Constitution.
The move has triggered widespread criticism, with many viewing it as a direct attack on a judge whose ruling upheld a centuries-old Hindu ritual.
According to the representation, Congress leader Priyanka Vadra and nearly 100 Opposition MPs joined the motion demanding Justice Swaminathan’s impeachment. This marks one of the rare instances where a sitting High Court judge is targeted immediately after delivering an order that goes against the political interests of a ruling party in the state.
The Flashpoint: Thiruparankundram Karthigai Deepam
The political confrontation stems from Justice Swaminathan’s order permitting Hindu devotees to light the Karthigai Deepam lamp atop Thiruparankundram Hill — a tradition observed for generations.
The DMK government had attempted to restrict the ritual, leading to public anger and a spate of protests across Tamil Nadu. The High Court’s intervention restored the practice, which many in the state considered a reaffirmation of religious rights.
DMK’s Motion: The Allegations
The INDI bloc’s motion accuses Justice Swaminathan of:
- Raising “serious questions regarding impartiality, transparency and the secular functioning of the judiciary”.
- Showing “undue favouritism” to Senior Advocate M. Sricharan Ranganathan and “preferential treatment” to advocates from a particular community.
- Delivering judgments allegedly influenced by a “particular political ideology”, violating secular principles.
சமூக ஒற்றுமையைக் குலைக்கும் நோக்கிலும், நீதித்துறைக்கு களங்கம் ஏற்படுத்தும் விதமாகவும் செயல்பட்டுவரும் சென்னை உயர்நீதிமன்ற மதுரை கிளை நீதிபதி ஜி.ஆர்.சுவாமிநாதன் அவர்களை பதவி நீக்கம் செய்யக்கோரிய தீர்மான நோட்டிஸை, இந்தியா கூட்டணி எம்.பி.களுடன் இணைந்து மக்களவை சபாநாயகர் திரு. ஓம்… pic.twitter.com/uASRTMh7m3
— Kanimozhi (கனிமொழி) (@KanimozhiDMK) December 9, 2025
However, critics argue that these allegations conveniently surfaced only after the judge ruled in favour of Hindu devotees — making the move look politically motivated.
Critics Slam DMK, Congress for ‘Judicial Intimidation’
Political observers note that the timing and tone of the impeachment motion resemble an attempt to intimidate the judiciary and warn judges against passing orders that displease the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu.
The push is seen as yet another example of the INDI alliance’s increasingly confrontational approach towards matters involving Hindu traditions.
“Anything connected to Hindu faith becomes a target”, critics said, accusing the Congress and DMK of displaying “anti-Sanatan instincts” in the way they handled the Deepam issue.
The Congress, already criticised as the “new Muslim League” and “Maoist-friendly”, faces backlash for spearheading a move that many call a political vendetta dressed up as a constitutional motion.
A Message to the Judiciary?
Legal experts caution that such politically triggered impeachment attempts, even if unsuccessful, send a chilling message to judges — particularly in cases involving religious rituals or cultural practices where political sensitivities run high.
Reacting sharply to the impeachment move, BJP Tamil Nadu President K. Annamalai launched a scathing attack on the DMK and its INDI alliance partners, accusing them of openly displaying their “anti-Hindu credentials”.
Annamalai said the Opposition bloc “wears it like a badge of honour” whenever an opportunity arises to undermine Hindu traditions or target those who protect them. He criticised the alliance for preaching constitutional values while “reducing them to mere rhetoric” whenever it suits their political agenda.
He noted that the Tamil Nadu government has already filed an appeal before the Supreme Court against Justice G.R. Swaminathan’s order, making the impeachment move an “unnecessary and desperate attempt to feed their politics of minority appeasement”.
“What purpose does this political drama serve,” Annamalai asked, “except signalling that the rule of law is secondary to vote-bank politics?”
He warned that the episode sets a dangerous precedent, suggesting that the INDI alliance may use impeachment as a tool against any judge whose verdict does not align with their political preferences. “What can be a greater threat to the Constitution than this?” he added.
Annamalai concluded that the DMK and its allies had once again demonstrated that “for them, divisive politics always comes first”.
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