Madras High Court judge faces impeachment push after ruling boosts Hindu ritual rights

Hindu Voice Team: In a dramatic turn of events, over 100 members of the INDIA Bloc in Parliament have submitted a motion seeking the impeachment of G. R. Swaminathan — a judge of the Madras High Court — following his order directing temple authorities at Thirupparankundram to restore the traditional lighting of a lamp at the deepam (lamp-pillar).

Supporters of the judge argue that his verdict simply reinstated a long-standing Hindu ritual, without creating any novel legal precedent. But many MPs claim the ruling reflects ideological bias, alleging the judge has repeatedly shown favouritism towards particular religious traditions over secular constitutional principles.

Critics further describe the impeachment drive as politically motivated — asserting that the real intent is to intimidate judges who uphold Hindu religious practices, while preserving space only for those perceived as sympathetic to minority or secular causes.

For its part, the legal community remains divided. Some lawyers have organized protests outside the High Court demanding Justice Swaminathan’s resignation, accusing him of issuing “hurried and biased” judgments that undermine constitutional secularism — while others regard the impeachment notice as a dangerous precedent that threatens judicial independence.

The controversy raises sharp questions about the boundaries of judicial discretion, religious rights, and the extent to which politics can influence the judiciary in matters of faith and tradition.

(The above piece is written based on the report published by The Commune. You can read the original piece HERE )