New Delhi: Over one hundred opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) have submitted a notice to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla seeking the removal of Madras High Court Justice G.R. Swaminathan. The MPs, numbering 107, represent a united front of opposition parties, primarily led by the DMK, with support from the Congress, Samajwadi Party, and CPI(M). The notice, dated December 9, 2025, invokes Articles 217 and 124 of the Constitution of India as the basis for the removal motion.
The move stems from a December 1 order by Justice Swaminathan regarding the lighting of the Karthigai Deepam lamp atop a stone pillar on Thiruparankundram hill in Madurai. This site has been a point of contention between Hindu temple authorities and an adjacent dargah. The judge's order instructed the Hindu temple to revive the "tradition" of lighting the Thiruparankundram Deepam near the dargah. He directed that the petitioner and ten others, escorted by CISF personnel, be allowed to climb the hill and light the lamp, deeming it "symbolic but necessary" to uphold the court's authority.
The opposition alleges that Justice Swaminathan's conduct "raises serious questions regarding impartiality, transparency, and the secular functioning of the judiciary". The notice accuses the judge of showing undue favouritism towards a senior advocate, M. Sricharan Ranganathan, and also favoring advocates from a particular community in deciding cases. Furthermore, the opposition claims that Justice Swaminathan's verdicts have been influenced by a particular political ideology, which goes against the secular principles of the Indian Constitution.
The Tamil Nadu government reportedly resisted the court's directive, citing concerns about law and order. This led to protests by pro-Hindu groups and clashes with the police, escalating the matter into a significant political and judicial conflict. DMK has alleged that there are efforts to ignite communal tensions in the state ahead of the Assembly elections.
The opposition's impeachment notice includes copies of letters sent to the President and the Chief Justice of India. DMK Parliamentary Party leader Kanimozhi, along with other prominent leaders such as T.R. Baalu, Akhilesh Yadav, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, personally handed over the impeachment notice to Speaker Om Birla. The situation remains tense, with the opposition твердо determined to pursue the impeachment motion and the ruling party potentially bracing for further political fallout.
