Opposition MPs seek impeachment of Madras High Court judge over Subrahmanya Swamy temple order
Chennai: In a dramatic escalation of political tensions, a delegation led by the DMK on Tuesday submitted a notice to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla seeking the impeachment of Madras High Court judge G.R. Swaminathan.
The move comes in response to the judge’s recent order permitting the lighting of lamps at the Subrahmanya Swamy temple atop the Tiruparankundram hill in Tamil Nadu.
The delegation, representing a cross-party alliance called the India Unity Forum, included senior leaders such as DMK chief Kanimozhi, T.R. Balu, Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav, and Congress MP Priyanka Vadra.
The notice was endorsed by 107 members of Parliament who claimed that Judge Swaminathan’s conduct raises serious questions regarding judicial impartiality, transparency, and adherence to the principle of secularism enshrined in the Indian Constitution.
The MPs alleged that the judge displayed a politically motivated bias in favor of a specific religious community while deciding the case, thereby undermining the secular ethos of the judiciary. The notice calls for urgent consideration of impeachment proceedings, asserting that the judge’s actions have set a dangerous precedent in which community interests appear to override constitutional mandates.
Reacting to the opposition’s move, former Tamil Nadu BJP president K. Annamalai criticized the delegation for politicizing the judiciary. Sharing his views on social media, Annamalai described the notice as an attempt to push a “minority appeasement agenda” under the guise of upholding secularism.
He added, “The India Unity Forum has once again showcased its anti-Hindu stance. Dressing it up as constitutional concern is mere rhetoric. The Tamil Nadu government has already approached the Supreme Court on this matter. The push for impeachment is nothing but a desperate political exercise to serve minority vote banks.”
The controversy stems from Judge Swaminathan’s order allowing the lighting of lamps at the upper lamp pillar on Tiruparankundram hill. The temple, dedicated to Lord Subrahmanya, hosts two ancient lamp pillars. Traditionally, only the lower pillar had been used for the annual Deepotsava festival.
Devotees seeking to perform rituals on the upper pillar had been denied permission by the state government, citing concerns that the proximity of a nearby dargah could spark communal tensions.
The Madras High Court, in its recent ruling, granted permission for lighting lamps on the upper pillar as well, stating that devotees had the right to conduct the ritual safely. This judgment has triggered widespread debate, with opposition parties interpreting it as judicial overreach and a breach of secular principles.
Critics argue that the decision could inflame communal sensitivities in the region, while supporters insist that the court’s order merely upholds the religious rights of Hindus under the Constitution. Legal experts note that such disputes, involving historic temples and religious practices, have often been settled through judicial interpretation when administrative authorities deny access.
The matter has now moved into the political arena, with impeachment calls highlighting the growing polarization over religious and secular issues. The DMK-led delegation’s notice reflects broader concerns among opposition parties that the judiciary may be swayed by religious considerations, which could set a precedent for future cases.
This controversy has intensified the political discourse in Tamil Nadu and at the national level, prompting debates over judicial independence, secularism, and minority appeasement. Observers note that the Supreme Court may eventually have to intervene to clarify both the legal and constitutional dimensions of the case, while impeachment proceedings remain a complex and rare mechanism in India’s parliamentary system.
The Tiruparankundram temple case underscores the delicate balance the judiciary must maintain between protecting religious freedoms and ensuring secular governance. With political parties on high alert, the ruling and subsequent reactions have turned a centuries-old religious practice into a flashpoint for national debate.
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