Archive · 13 Dec 2025
Controversy Over Madras High Court Judge's Order
Some opposition members in India's parliament want to remove a judge from the Madras High Court.
The judge had made a decision about a religious festival, which the opposition says could cause problems.
A member of the ruling party, BJP, said this move is wrong and an attack on the judiciary.
He thinks the judge should not be removed for making that decision.
The opposition says the judge should be removed, but the BJP member disagrees and wants the move to be dismissed.
Many former judges also support the judge and say removing him would be wrong.
The Tamil Nadu government has been criticized for not following the court's order and for using police to stop people from lighting the lamp at the temple.
The High Court has dismissed the state government’s appeal and upheld the order to light the lamp at the designated site.
107 Opposition members, led by the DMK, submitted a notice to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to remove Justice G R Swaminathan of Madras High Court.
BJP MP Tejasvi Surya condemned the move, calling it an attack on the judiciary and the impartiality of judges.
The notice was submitted in response to Justice Swaminathan's order in favor of lighting the Karthigai Deepam in Thiruparankundram, which the opposition claims could inflame communal tensions.
56 former judges, including those who served in the Supreme Court, issued a statement in support of Justice Swaminathan, calling the impeachment motion a 'brazen attempt to browbeat judges'.
The temple lamp row revolves around the lighting of a festival lamp on one of two ancient pillars in the Thirupparankundram Subramaniaswamy temple, with the judge ordering the lamp to be lit on the upper pillar instead of the traditional lower pillar.
BJP MP Anurag Thakur criticized the Tamil Nadu government for defying the high court ruling and adopting an 'anti-Sanatan' stance.
The Tamil Nadu government declined to comply with the Madras High Court order, citing public order concerns, and approached the Supreme Court seeking an urgent hearing.
The High Court bench dismissed the state government’s appeal, calling it an attempt to pre-empt contempt action, and upheld the order to light the lamp at the designated site.
- Who
- 107 Opposition members led by the DMK, 56 former judges, BJP MPs Anurag Thakur and Tejasvi Surya, Tamil Nadu government, Madras High Court judges
- What
- Opposition submitted a notice to remove Justice G R Swaminathan from Madras High Court; former judges expressed support for the judge; BJP MPs criticized the Tamil Nadu government over the Karthigai Deepam row; Madras High Court dismissed the state government’s appeal and upheld the order to light the lamp at Deepathoon
- When
- Days before the BJP MP's statement, on a Thursday; the High Court bench dismissed the state government’s appeal; the Tamil Nadu government approached the Supreme Court seeking an urgent hearing
- Where
- Lok Sabha, India; Madurai bench of the Madras High Court; Thiruparankundram Subramaniaswamy temple
- Why
- Justice Swaminathan passed an order in favor of lighting the Karthigai Deepam in Thiruparankundram, which the opposition claims could inflame communal tensions; the Tamil Nadu government declined to comply with the Madras High Court order, citing public order concerns
- Opposition Members
- 107
- Opposition Leader
- DMK
- Lok Sabha Speaker
- Om Birla
- Targeted Judge
- Justice G R Swaminathan
- High Court
- Madras High Court
- BJP MP
- Tejasvi Surya
- Controversial Order
- Lighting the Karthigai Deepam in Thiruparankundram
- Former Judges Supporting Swaminathan
- 56
- Temple
- Thirupparankundram Subramaniaswamy temple
- Festival
- Karthigai Deepam
- BJP MP Criticizing TN Government
- Anurag Thakur
- Tamil Nadu BJP President
- Nainar Nagendran
- High Court Bench
- Justices G Jayachandran and K K Ramakrishnan
- Survey Pillar
- Claimed as Deepathoon by petitioners, denied by TN Government
Sources
Attack on judiciary: BJP MP hits out at Opp over notice to remove HC judge
Bias To Judicial Indiscipline: Why Opposition MPs Want Justice GR Swaminathan Impeached
"Attempt To Browbeat": 56 Ex-Judges Slam Opposition's Judge Impeachment
'Political Browbeating': 56 Former Judges Sign Petition Supporting Madras HC Judge Justice G.R. Swaminathan
‘Brazen attempt to browbeat’: 56 ex-judges slam opposition move to impeach Justice Swaminathan
‘Anti-Sanatan’: BJP MP Anurag Thakur attacks Tamil Nadu govt over lathicharge on devotees amid Karthigai Deepam row
Deepam row: TN Govt debunks claims of ‘deepathoon’; HC told it is ‘Survey Pillar’
56 Ex-Judges Denounce Attempts to Impeach Justice G R Swaminathan of Madras HC
56 former SC, HC judges issue statement in support of Madras HC judge facing impeachment motion in LS
Uproar in Lok Sabha After Anurag Thakur Accuses DMK of Anti-Sanatan Dharma Actions
Don't bully: Ex-judges flag impeach bid in temple row as a threat to judicial independence - Telegraph India
DMK move to impeach HC judge is disquieting
