New Delhi, December 9, 2025 – In a rare and contentious move, Members of Parliament from the opposition INDIA bloc have submitted notices in both houses of Parliament seeking the impeachment of Justice G.R. Swaminathan of the Madras High Court's Madurai Bench. The action stems from the judge's recent order in a dispute over the lighting of a traditional lamp during the Karthigai Deepam festival at Tamil Nadu's Thiruparankundram hill, which the opposition alleges constitutes "proven misbehaviour and incapacity" under Article 218 of the Constitution.
The impeachment notices, coordinated primarily by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), were filed today in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, backed by signatures from over 100 Lok Sabha MPs and 50 Rajya Sabha members – meeting the minimum threshold required to initiate proceedings. DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi confirmed the development, stating, "We plan to move the impeachment motion in both houses," emphasizing that the bloc views the judge's December 1 order as an overreach into religious customs.
The controversy erupted at the Subramaniya Swamy Temple atop Thiruparankundram hill in Madurai, a site revered in Hindu tradition for the annual Karthigai Deepam celebrations. The hill also hosts a dargah (shrine) dedicated to Islamic saint Hazrat Nathar Shah. On a petition filed by Hindu Tamilar Katchi founder Seeman (also known as Rama Ravikumar), Justice Swaminathan directed temple authorities to ensure a lamp was continuously lit at the "deepathoon" – a stone pillar traditionally used for lighting festival lamps – located near the dargah. The order aimed to uphold what the court described as a longstanding practice, allowing devotees access without disrupting the site's shared religious significance.
However, the ruling sparked outrage among Hindu groups and opposition leaders, who argued it interfered with the temple's autonomy and Hindu rituals, potentially favoring minority sensitivities over majority traditions. Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) president and MP Thol. Thirumavalavan, a key DMK ally, led initial calls for impeachment, accusing the judge of "bias" and demanding his immediate removal to "protect secularism and temple rights." CPI(M) MP Su. Venkatesan echoed this, noting that signatures were hastily collected over the past day and would be formally submitted today. "We are collecting signatures of the INDIA Bloc MPs and will submit them to Parliament," he said, framing the motion as a stand against judicial overreach.
The impeachment process, if admitted by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, would trigger an inquiry by a three-member committee comprising a Supreme Court judge and two eminent jurists. Should the panel substantiate the charges, the motion would proceed to a vote requiring a two-thirds majority in both houses, followed by presidential approval for removal. Legal experts note that such motions against High Court judges are exceedingly rare in India, with only a handful ever reaching the inquiry stage, underscoring the political weight of this escalation.
The move has drawn sharp criticism from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and pro-Hindu voices, who dismissed it as a "desperate bid for minority appeasement" amid DMK's electoral challenges in Tamil Nadu. BJP advocate and Tamil Nadu legal convenor Abhilash Gopinathan labeled the effort a "troubling political strategy" that distorts a straightforward property rights ruling into a religious flashpoint, warning it undermines judicial independence. Social media users aligned with the BJP echoed this sentiment, with one prominent account accusing the DMK-led bloc of "declaring war on the judge" to shield unfavorable rulings, contrasting it with the central government's restraint in past judicial controversies.
Meanwhile, advocates and secular groups have rallied in support of the impeachment, with calls for Justice Swaminathan's resignation or transfer circulating online to "save the independence and integrity of the judiciary." The development unfolds against the backdrop of heightened communal tensions in Tamil Nadu, exacerbated by actor Vijay's rising political influence, which some analysts say is pressuring DMK to consolidate minority votes.
As Parliament convenes today, the motion's fate hangs in the balance, potentially setting a precedent for how political alliances navigate judicial decisions on sensitive cultural issues. The INDIA bloc's leaders remain defiant, with MDMK MP Durai Vaiko asserting that the debate on grounds – including alleged "misbehaviour" – will unfold only if the motion advances, vowing to "uphold constitutional values."
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