INDIA Bloc MPs Submit Impeachment Notice Against Madras High Court Judge Over Karthigai Deepam Controversy

Opposition MPs Move Impeachment Against High Court Judge

A delegation of INDIA bloc MPs on Tuesday submitted an impeachment notice against Madras High Court Judge Justice GR Swaminathan, garnering 120 signatures from opposition members. The move follows a contentious dispute over the traditional Karthigai Deepam lamp lighting ceremony at Thiruparankundram.

DMK parliamentary party leader Kanimozhi, along with the party’s Lok Sabha leader TR Baalu, Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav, and Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, handed the impeachment notice to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.

Legal Grounds for Impeachment Motion

The impeachment notice, dated December 9, 2025, invokes Articles 217 read with 124 of the Constitution of India for the removal of the Madras High Court judge.

The notice contains several allegations against Justice Swaminathan:

His conduct raised questions on judicial impartiality and transparency
Accusations of showing undue favour to a senior advocate and lawyers from a particular community
Claims that verdicts were influenced by political ideology, going against secular constitutional principles

Background: The Thiruparankundram Karthigai Deepam Row

The impeachment motion stems from a simmering dispute over the lighting of the traditional Karthigai Deepam lamp atop the hill at Thiruparankundram, a site that houses both a temple and a nearby dargah.

The High Court Order

Justice Swaminathan’s verdict permitted the ritual, directing that the lamp be lit on the “Deepathoon” pillar by December 4. The decision rejected objections from both temple authorities and dargah management, asserting the ritual would not infringe on the religious rights of the Muslim community.

The court also directed that a small group of devotees, escorted by security personnel, be allowed to perform the ritual.

State Government’s Response

The state government declined to implement the ruling, citing law-and-order concerns. This triggered protests by pro-Hindu groups and clashes with police, escalating into a major political and judicial conflict.

Political Reactions and Allegations

BJP’s Response

BJP Tamil Nadu president Annamalai criticized the impeachment motion, calling it an example of “minority appeasement politics.” He alleged that the move, despite an appeal being pending before the Supreme Court of India, sent a message that verdicts could be challenged through “political pressure” and claimed it posed a threat to constitutional values.

BJP spokesperson Narayan Tirupathy alleged the move was aimed at intimidating the judge. “The DMK is doing this because they want to intimidate the judge as he belongs to the Brahmin community. The DMK is known for its anti-Brahmin and anti-Hindu stance, and that is why they are doing this,” he said.

Numbers Game in Parliament

Tirupathy also claimed that the opposition does not have the required numbers for the motion to succeed. “They do not have the two-thirds majority, so this will not happen,” he added.

Supreme Court to Hear State’s Appeal

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court agreed to hear the state government’s challenge to the High Court’s order permitting devotees of the Arulmighu Subramaniya Swamy Temple to light the traditional Karthigai Deepam lamp at Deepathoon.