In a significant escalation of the ongoing tussle between the Tamil Nadu state government and the judiciary, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and its INDIA bloc allies formally moved an impeachment motion on Tuesday against Madras High Court Judge Justice GR Swaminathan.
Submitted to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, the notice bears signatures from 120 Members of Parliament and accuses the judge of conduct detrimental to judicial impartiality. The move comes against the backdrop of a volatile dispute regarding the lighting of the traditional Karthigai Deepam lamp at Thiruparankundram in Madurai.
The Move in Parliament
A high-profile delegation comprising DMK parliamentary party leader Kanimozhi, the party’s Lok Sabha leader TR Baalu, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, and Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra met with Speaker Om Birla to hand over the impeachment notice.
According to the document dated December 9, 2025, the motion invokes Article 217 read with Article 124 of the Constitution of India, provisions that govern the removal of a High Court judge. Copies of the representation have also been forwarded to the President of India and the Chief Justice of India.
The motion levels serious allegations against Justice Swaminathan, claiming his conduct has compromised “judicial impartiality and transparency.” The notice specifically accuses the judge of extending undue favor to a senior advocate and lawyers belonging to a particular community. Furthermore, the signatories alleged that his verdicts appeared influenced by “political ideology,” thereby contravening the secular principles enshrined in the Constitution.
The Trigger: Thiruparankundram Verdict
The impeachment bid is directly linked to the simmering tension in Tamil Nadu following Justice Swaminathan’s recent order permitting the lighting of the Karthigai Deepam lamp atop a hill at Thiruparankundram. The site is sensitive, housing both a temple and a nearby dargah.
In his verdict, Justice Swaminathan had directed that the lamp be lit on the “Deepathoon” pillar by December 4. The court rejected objections raised by both the temple authorities and the dargah management, asserting that the ritual would not infringe upon the religious rights of the Muslim community. To facilitate this, the court ordered that a small group of devotees be escorted by security personnel to perform the lighting.
However, the Tamil Nadu state government declined to implement the directive, citing imminent law-and-order concerns. The refusal sparked protests by pro-Hindu groups and led to clashes with the police, turning a judicial order into a flashpoint for a major political confrontation.
Political Firestorm
The move to impeach the judge has drawn sharp criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Former Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to condemn the motion.
Annamalai accused the INDIA bloc of “flaunting their anti-Hindu credentials like a badge of honour.” He argued that moving an impeachment motion while an appeal is pending before the Supreme Court exposes “minority appeasement politics.”
“This move sends a dangerous message that verdicts can be challenged through political pressure,” Annamalai stated, terming the motion a threat to constitutional values.
Supreme Court Intervention
As the political battle plays out in parliament, the legal challenge has reached the apex court. The Supreme Court has agreed to hear the state government’s plea challenging the High Court’s order regarding the Arulmighu Subramaniya Swamy Temple and the lighting of the lamp at the ‘Deepathoon’.
