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Synopsis

At a book launch event in Chennai on Sunday this week, Madras High Court judge Justice GR Swaminathan stated that for the Indian Constitution to continue to exist, the demographic composition that existed at the time it was drafted must be maintained.

"Constitution is the ultimate for everyone...If the Constitution has to remain the same, the demographic profile which existed at the time of the formation of the Constitution has to be maintained. Only when the demographic profile remains the same, the constitution will remain the same. If the demographic profile changes, the constitution will perish”, he said.

To maintain the demographic profile of the country, the judge explained, "one must adhere to the 'Bharatiya Traditions' and 'Dharmas' that have existed in the country.

Speaking further about Indian culture, the judge remarked that when Tamil Poet Saint Andal urged people to wake up in her hymns, she intended for them to recognise that our society was in grave danger.

"When Andal sang in her hymns asking people to wake up from their sleep, I believed she was calling the Indian society to wake up which was sleeping peacefully without knowing that it was under a lot of danger”, he said.

He refused to speak further on the issue and said that being a judge, he could not make further comments.

“If the demographic profile is altered, the Constitution ceases to exist. So if the Constitution has to be there forever means the demographic profile also should remain the same. If that is to happen, people who follow the Indian tradition and the Indian Dharma should remain in the same tradition. Then only it (the Constitution) will be protected,” he said. “As a judge, I cannot speak beyond this… I hope you understand,” he added.

Before making the remarks, Justice Swaminathan issued a warning of sorts. He told the audience: “It (the speech) can turn out to be a slightly controversial view but I don’t mind that…”