The Madurai Bench of Madras High Court on Friday issued a strong warning against individuals making derogatory or caste-based remarks about members of the judiciary, stating that such conduct will not be tolerated. The Division Bench of Justice G Jayachandran and Justice KK Ramakrishnan made the observations while hearing appeals related to the Thirupparankundram Karthigai Deepam lamp-lighting dispute.
The bench said that although judges are restrained from responding publicly, this cannot be taken as an opportunity to provoke or undermine the judiciary. “We can tolerate to some extent. If it exceeds, we’ll take action. You know that they have exceeded. They can’t keep on provoking, making (remarks). Just because the courts and judges are not supposed to react, they can’t take advantage of it,” the court stated.
The remarks came after Advocate MR Venkatesh, representing the writ petitioners, informed the bench that personal and caste-based attacks were being made online against the single judge, Justice GR Swaminathan, who had ordered the lighting of the Karthigai Deepam at 6 PM on 3 December 2025.
Reiterating that attempts to demoralise the judiciary would have consequences, the bench cautioned litigants and political actors against overstepping legal boundaries. “Persons violating law think there won’t be any reaction. Please instruct your clients not to test the patience of court and degrade the judiciary,” the judges said.
They further warned that institutional authority must be respected irrespective of who is in power: “Whether you’re in power or not, you have tongue or no tongue. Whatever it is, if you’re going to demoralise the institution, the constitution will remain only in paper.”
The bench adjourned the appeals to 12 December 2025, when all petitions challenging the single judge’s order directing the temple administration to light the Karthigai Deepam will be heard together.
(Source: LiveLaw)
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