Tamil Nadu's Director General of Police (DGP) has informed the Supreme Court that cases have been registered against individuals who allegedly made caste and religion-based defamatory remarks against Justice G.R. Swaminathan of the Madras High Court. The remarks followed Justice Swaminathan's order allowing the lighting of the 'Karthigai Deepam' oil lamp on the Thirupparankundram hill in Madurai.
In an affidavit submitted to the apex court, DGP G. Venkataraman stated that instructions have been issued to all Superintendents of Police in districts to take immediate and effective action to prevent the publication or circulation of any material that scandalizes the Court or Judge, including books with problematic pictorial representations, statements, or caricatures.
The Greater Chennai Police have taken action regarding the circulation of defamatory, derogatory, abusive, and scandalous posts on social media platforms such as X, Facebook, YouTube, and WhatsApp. The Cyber Crime Cell under the Central Crime Branch of Greater Chennai Police has assigned appropriate current numbers to the petition. The Cyber Crime Cell checked social media for objectionable posts/contents and identified nine social media handles on X, Facebook, YouTube, and other platforms.
The submissions were made in response to a plea filed by advocate G.S. Mani, who alleged that ruling DMK-supported parties, including communist parties, along with certain individuals and lawyers, conducted illegal protests in public places and within court premises. The Supreme Court had earlier issued a notice to the Tamil Nadu government, seeking a response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed against protesters who allegedly made scandalous and defamatory remarks targeting Justice G.R. Swaminathan. The PIL addressed the remarks made against the judge following his order regarding the Karthigai Deepam. The bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and P.B. Varale issued the notice to the Tamil Nadu state authorities, including the Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, the DGP, and the Chennai Police Commissioner, based on the PIL filed by Advocate G.S. Mani.
In related developments from December 2025, Justice Swaminathan had summoned the Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary and ADGP to explain the repeated defiance of court orders. The court had rejected the State's plea for adjournment, noting that a Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed before the Supreme Court was defective and that no interim order had been obtained. Justice Swaminathan referenced cases in Kanyakumari and Dindigul districts involving religious-site conflicts where district administrations allegedly failed to enforce high court orders. The court noted a "definite pattern" of non-compliance that could not be attributed merely to mistaken judgment and emphasized that State officials are bound to enforce judicial orders.
Furthermore, allegations had surfaced that Justice Swaminathan's conduct undermined confidence in judicial impartiality and transparency. Accusations were made that he extended undue favor to a senior advocate and lawyers from a particular community and that some of his verdicts were colored by political ideology.