Thirupparankundram row: Madras High Court to hear case against personal attacks on Justice G.R. Swaminathan

The Madras High Court on Wednesday (January 7, 2026) permitted an advocate to move a lunch motion for restraining the reported release of a Tamil book portraying Justice G.R. Swaminathan of the court as a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) sympathiser for his verdict in the Thirupparankundram Karthigai Deepam issue.

First Division Bench of Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G. Arul Murugan accepted a request made by advocate B. Jagannath for an urgent hearing of the matter as the lawyer stated the book was slated to be released in Chennai on Thursday (January 8).

The Bench also asked Advocate General (A-G) P.S. Raman and Additional Solicitor General (ASG) AR.L. Sundaresan to appear for the hearing in the afternoon since the matter was serious in nature and related to personal attacks on a judge for the verdicts delivered by him.

The A-G told the Bench it may not be appropriate for him to appear in the case since the issue bordered around criminal contempt too, and he was the statutory authority under the Contempt of Courts Act of 1971 to grant sanction for initiating contempt proceedings.

Mr. Raman said he would request one of the Additional Advocates General to be present for the hearing in the afternoon session. After accepting his submission, the judges directed Mr. Jagannath to convey the matter to the ASG too, so that he could be present for the hearing.

While mentioning the matter before the Bench, the advocate produced a pamphlet being circulated widely on the social media with the cover page of a book in which Justice Swaminathan’s caricature had been printed with khaki half-trousers, holding a saffron flag in one hand and a lamp (Deepam) in the other.

The title of the book in Tamil read: ‘Tirupparankundram issue - Is G.R. Swaminathan a judge or a RSS Rowdy?’ The pamphlet also claimed the new book costing ₹30 would be available at the Chennai Book Fair 2026. “The pamphlet has the name of the publisher and a phone number too,” the advocate told the Bench.

Contending that Justice Swaminathan was being subjected to personal attacks for his December 1, 2025 judgment in the Thirupparankundram Karthigai Deepam issue, Mr. Jagannath said, no one should be allowed to indulge in such mudslinging against the judiciary. He urged the Bench to initiate appropriate action.

After asking the lawyer to file a petition as expeditiously as possible, the Chief Justice said, the matter would be heard in the afternoon on the same day.