Breaking | Book Is Derogatory, Abusive & Highly Contemptuous: Madras HC Halts Release Of Book Targeting Justice Swaminathan, Initiates Contempt Action Against Publisher
The Court said that the book tends to scandalise the Court and derogates the public confidence in the system.
A Division Bench of the Madras High Court has ordered an interim stay on the release of a book allegedly targeting Justice G.R. Swaminathan, describing its title and caricature as "abusive, derogatory, and highly contemptuous."
Taking suo motu notice of the matter, the Court observed that the publication by Keezhaikaatru Publishers, scheduled for launch at the 49th Chennai Book Fair commencing from January 8, 2025, crossed all limits of fair criticism and directly tended to scandalise the Court.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G. Arul Murugan ordered, "The counsel for the Petitioner submits that the title of the ebook is being circulated in media, including social media, which has been placed on record...The pictorial representation, the caricature, and the expressions from the words used are not only derogatory but also virtually abusive. The pictorial representation directly bears the name of sititng judge of this court...If this is the title of a book, it is apparently derogatory and abusive, highly contemptuous, as it tends to scandalise the Court and tends to derogate the public confidence in the system. On the face of it, the proposed release of the book has shown that it is highly derogatory and crosses all limits. It is directed that immediate action must be taken by the State Authorities...and no such book, statement, caricature, to scandalise the Court/Judge is allowed to be published and circulated. Emergent Notice is issued to the Respondent, including a private notice to be served at stall no. 173 at Chennai Book Fair...On the basis of the material, we are inclined to take suo motu contempt action. Notice be issued to the Respondents. "
The Bench emphasized that such publications tend to "derogate the public confidence in the system," necessitating immediate judicial intervention to protect the institution.
It was submitted by the counsels that they don't want something like that to happen, and the Chief Minister is going to be there at the Chennai Book Fair. They must not be allowed to publish such books. It further contended that it should be published on the social media platforms as well.
The Book was supposed to be launched at the 49th Chennai Book Fair at Stall Nos. 172 and 173, hence, the court saw an urgent need to prevent the distribution of materials against the judiciary.
The Court permitted an advocate to move a lunch motion to stop the release of a Tamil book. The book reportedly portrayed Justice G. R. Swaminathan as an RSS sympathiser because of his verdict in the Thirupparankundram Karthigai Deepam case.
Background
Recently, thirty-six former judges, including the former Supreme Court Judge, Justice Krishn Murari, have condemned the move by certain Members of Parliament to initiate impeachment proceedings against Justice G.R. Swaminathan of the Madras High Court.
Earlier, on December 12, fifty six former judges had condemned the same move issuing a declaration titled “STATEMENT OF SOLIDARITY & CALL TO PROTECT INDEPENDENCE OF JUDICIARY,” the signatories said, “We, the former Judges of the Hon'ble Supreme Court and former Chief Justices and Judges of the Hon'ble High Courts, take serious exception to the attempt being made by certain Members of Parliament and other senior advocates to impeach Hon'ble Justice G.R. Swaminathan of the Madras High Court.”
Designated Senior Advocates and Advocates practicing before the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court had also submitted a memorandum to Om Birla, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, regarding the same.
On January 6, 2025, the High Court, while upholding the order of Justice Swaminathan ruling on the Karthigai Deepam ritual at Thirupparankundram Hill, observed that it is ridiculous to believe that a once-a-year religious ceremony conducted by temple representatives on their own land would threaten public peace unless such a disturbance was "sponsored by the State itself" to further a political agenda.
The Court also remarked that the District Administration’s security concerns were an "imaginary ghost" created by them for their convenience sake and to put one community against the other community under suspicion and constant mistrust.
The Court disposed of the appeals by directing the Devasthanam team to light the lamp at the Deepathoon during the Karthigaideepam festival under the coordination of the District Collector, while mandating that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) impose preservation conditions and the police restrict public access to the site to ensure both monumental safety and public order.
Justice GR Swaminathan's order permitted the lighting of the Karthigai Deepam (lamp) at the Deepathoon (stone pillar) on the Thiruparankundram Hills, located near a dargah. Justice Swaminathan, while rejecting their objections, referencing a 1923 civil decree affirming the temple’s title over the hill, upheld later by the Privy Council, held that the Deepathoon stood in unoccupied temple property and outside the dargah precinct. The Court quashed the Executive Officer’s decision to confine lighting to the mandapam and directed that the Deepam be lit at Deepathoon this year, ordering police protection to ensure enforcement.
The present matter is now to be listed on January 22, 2026.
Cause Title: P. Naveenprasad v. Home Secretary, State Of Tamil Nadu and Ors. [WP No. 608 of 2026]
Click here to read/download the order
(Order uploaded after publishing)