INDIA bloc plans to move a motion to impeach Madras High Court Judge G.R. Swaminathan

INDIA bloc MPs are planning to move an impeachment motion against Justice G.R. Swaminathan of the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court in the context of his order directing the authorities of the Subramaniya Swamy Temple at Thirupparankundram to ensure that the Karthigai Deepam was lit at the deepathoon (pillar) near a dargah atop the hill.

“We are collecting the signatures of the INDIA bloc MPs, and will submit them to Parliament tomorrow,” CPI(M) MP from Madurai  Su.  Venkatesan claimed. One hundred members of the Lok Sabha or 50 members of the Rajya Sabha have to sign an impeachment motion against a High Court judge.

If the motion is accepted, a three-member committee will investigate it. Thereafter, both Houses must pass the motion by a special majority (two-thirds present and voting, plus absolute majority of total membership). Finally, the President will issue the removal order. However, no judge has been successfully impeached in India. The DMK, which is coordinating the petition, will file it in a day or two in the Lok Sabha.

The controversy erupted after Justice Swaminathan on December 1 took up a plea by Hindu Tamilar Katchi founder Rama Ravikumar and allowed devotees to light the Karthigai Deepam at the deepathoon. When this wasn’t allowed during the Karthigai Deepam festival on December 3, Mr. Ravikumar filed a contempt petition. The same day, the Single-Judge Bench allowed Mr. Ravikumar and 10 others to light the lamp at the deepathoon and ordered that they be protected by the Central Industrial Security Force. But the police stopped the group at the foothills, citing the government’s appeal in the contempt case.

The stand-off escalated Friday last after the Tamil Nadu government filed an appeal in the Supreme Court. A separate appeal was filed in the Madras High Court against the single-judge order. The Supreme Court has admitted the State’s plea.