‘Crosses All Limits’: Madras High Court Stops Release of Book Allegedly Targeting Justice GR Swaminathan

The Madras High Court on January 7, 2026 directed the Tamil Nadu police to take immediate steps to prevent the release and circulation of a book that allegedly carries a highly derogatory and abusive depiction of Justice GR Swaminathan, a sitting judge of the court, and initiated suo motu criminal contempt proceedings against the publisher.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G. Arul Murugan was hearing a writ petition filed by P. Naveenprasad, who brought to the court’s notice that a book proposed to be released at the Chennai Book Fair on January 8 contained scandalising material against the sitting judge. The petitioner claimed that the title, caricature, and pictorial representation on the book’s front page directly named and portrayed the judge in offensive and abusive language.

According to the petition, the title page of the book had already begun circulating on social media platforms, prompting concerns about reputational harm to the judiciary and erosion of public confidence in the justice delivery system. A copy of the alleged front page was placed before the bench for its perusal.

After examining the material, court recorded that the pictorial representation, caricature, and expressions used on the proposed book cover were not merely critical but “highly derogatory” and “virtually abusive.” The bench observed that the representation directly pointed to the sitting judge of the court, both by name and facial depiction, and prima facie crossed permissible limits.

Court noted that the book was scheduled to be released on January 8 at the opening of the Chennai Book Fair from stalls numbered 172 and 173. The allegations were specifically directed against Keezhaikaatru Publishers, which had been allotted Stall No. 173 at the venue.

Appearing for the Union of India, the Additional Solicitor General submitted that if the proposed title and content were allowed to be published, it would amount to a contemptuous act as it tended to scandalise the court. The Additional Government Pleader, representing the state authorities, echoed the concern and submitted that such publications had the potential to undermine public trust in the judiciary.

Taking note of these submissions, the bench held that, on the face of it, the proposed release of the book in its present form was highly abusive and derogatory, and that it crossed all acceptable limits. The court observed that such actions warranted stern intervention.

Accordingly, the bench directed the state police authorities, including the Director General of Police, the Commissioner of Police, Chennai, and the Inspector of Police of the concerned police station, to take immediate and effective action to ensure that no book containing such pictorial representations, statements, caricatures, or contents tending to scandalise the court or a judge was published or circulated.

The directions included taking appropriate steps to prevent such publication and circulation by any means, including electronic media. Court clarified that this could involve seizure of the offending pictorial representations and content to ensure that scandalising publications did not reach the public domain.

On the basis of the material placed before it, the bench also recorded that it was inclined to initiate suo motu criminal contempt proceedings against the publisher, Keezhaikaatru Publishers. Emergent notice was ordered to be issued to the fifth respondent, including service of private notice at Stall No. 173 at the Chennai Book Fair.

Court further directed the state authorities to place a compliance report before it on the next date of hearing, detailing the steps taken pursuant to its directions. The matter has been posted for further hearing on January 28, 2026.

Case Title: P. Naveenprasad vs. Home Secretary, State of Tamil Nadu and Others

Order Date: January 7, 2026

Bench: Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G. Arul Murugan