Sources indicate that Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Members of Parliament are attempting to initiate an impeachment motion against Justice GR Swaminathan of the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court. This move comes after an order issued by the judge directed that the traditional Karthigai Deepam be lit atop the Deebathun Pillar located near a dargah on the Thiruparankundram hills. The court’s ruling specifically stated that performing this ritual would not infringe upon the rights of either the nearby dargah or the Muslim community.
But the Tamil Nadu government did not implement the court order, citing reasons of maintaining law and order.
The judicial directive had overridden objections raised by both the temple authorities and the dargah management. The court even ordered that a group of up to ten devotees, escorted by security (CISF), should go to the place to perform the ritual.
The state government, however, was adamant not to enforce the said ruling. On the night of the festival, the police blocked access to the hilltop, resulting in protests from Hindu groups who tried to climb the hill.
A Division Bench of the Madras High Court, on December 5, 2025, said the original order of Justice Swaminathan, with the observation that the State machinery had "wilfully decided" not to carry out the directions. An appeal filed by the authorities was subsequently dismissed.
The Tamil Nadu government then moved a Special Leave Petition in the Supreme Court of India, challenging the verdict of the Madras High Court.
The issue has since elicited a serious political response, with ruling party parliamentarians now planning an escalation of the matter at the national level by seeking impeachment.
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