6 months ago
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The Madras High Court connected Wednesday (January 7, 2026) permitted an advocator to determination a luncheon question for restraining the reported merchandise of a Tamil publication portraying Justice G.R. Swaminathan of the tribunal arsenic a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) sympathiser for his verdict successful the Thirupparankundram Karthigai Deepam issue.
First Division Bench of Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G. Arul Murugan accepted a petition made by advocator B. Jagannath for an urgent proceeding of the substance arsenic the lawyer stated the publication was slated to beryllium released successful Chennai connected Thursday (January 8).
The Bench besides asked Advocate General (A-G) P.S. Raman and Additional Solicitor General (ASG) AR.L. Sundaresan to look for the proceeding successful the day since the substance was superior successful quality and related to idiosyncratic attacks connected a justice for the verdicts delivered by him.
The A-G told the Bench it whitethorn not beryllium due for him to look successful the lawsuit since the contented bordered astir transgression contempt too, and helium was the statutory authorization nether the Contempt of Courts Act of 1971 to assistance authorisation for initiating contempt proceedings.
Mr. Raman said helium would petition 1 of the Additional Advocates General to beryllium contiguous for the proceeding successful the day session. After accepting his submission, the judges directed Mr. Jagannath to convey the substance to the ASG too, truthful that helium could beryllium contiguous for the hearing.
While mentioning the substance earlier the Bench, the advocator produced a pamphlet being circulated wide connected the societal media with the screen leafage of a publication successful which Justice Swaminathan’s caricature had been printed with khaki half-trousers, holding a saffron emblem successful 1 manus and a lamp (Deepam) successful the other.
The rubric of the publication successful Tamil read: ‘Tirupparankundram contented - Is G.R. Swaminathan a justice oregon a RSS Rowdy?’ The pamphlet besides claimed the caller publication costing ₹30 would beryllium disposable astatine the Chennai Book Fair 2026. “The pamphlet has the sanction of the steadfast and a telephone fig too,” the advocator told the Bench.
Contending that Justice Swaminathan was being subjected to idiosyncratic attacks for his December 1, 2025 judgment successful the Thirupparankundram Karthigai Deepam issue, Mr. Jagannath said, nary 1 should beryllium allowed to indulge successful specified mudslinging against the judiciary. He urged the Bench to initiate due action.
After asking the lawyer to record a petition arsenic expeditiously arsenic possible, the Chief Justice said, the substance would beryllium heard successful the day connected the aforesaid day.
