Derogatory Remarks Against Justice G.R. Swaminathan: TN DGP Tells Supreme Court Action Taken

In a public interest litigation concerning derogatory remarks made against Justice G.R. Swaminathan of the Madras High Court following his orders in the Karthigai Deepam matter, the Supreme Court has been informed that the Greater Chennai Police has taken necessary action. The police action pertains to allegations of circulation of defamatory, abusive, derogatory, and scandalous posts targeting the judge on social media platforms such as X, Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, and other digital platforms.

An affidavit in this regard filed by the Director General of Police, Tamil Nadu before the Court on January 31, 2026 states, "The Cyber Crime Cell under the Central Crime Branch of Greater Chennai Police has promptly taken action and assigned appropriate current numbers to the petition. Since the petition has not provided details of social media posts and handles alleged to have posted objectionable remarks, immediately, action was taken by the Cyber Crime Cell by checking the social media for the said objectionable posts/contents and accordingly identified 9 social media handles on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Youtube and other platforms."

Court has further been told that the Cyber Crime Cell of Greater Chennai Police had sent requisition on January 22, 2026 to the Nodal Officers of the concerned social media intermediaries to remove the said content, block the impersonating accounts, preserve the original URL and send the identities of the handles for taking appropriate legal action as per the law. However, the reply is yet to be received in this regard.

Additionally, on January 28, 2026, a case in the Cyber Crime Social Media Investigation Wing of Central Crime Branch, Greater Chennai Police, under Sections 196, 221, 267, 353(1)(c)and 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, read with Section 67 of the Information Technology Act, 2000 has also been registered based on the representation of the petitioner and the case is under investigation.

DGP G Venkataraman has also told the court that on December 5, 2025, between 10:00 hrs. and 11:45 hrs., at NSC Bose Salai, Armenian Road Junction, CPI(M) party cadres numbering about 50 had unlawfully assembled and raised slogans against the Justice G.R. Swaminathan and a CSR was issued, which is under enquiry by the Inspector of Police, B2 Esplanade Police Station of the Greater Chennai Police.

"It is further submitted that, prompt and lawful action has been taken by the police authorities to maintain public order, ensure communal harmony, and uphold the dignity and independence of the judiciary, strictly in accordance with law and the directions of the Hon’ble Courts," the affidavit adds.

On January 28, 2026 the top court had sought the Tamil Nadu government's response to the PIL as a bench of Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice PB Varale had sought a status report from the State of Tamil Nadu.

A petition was filed before Supreme Court in December 2025 following the controversy surrounding Justice GR Swaminathan’s order in the Deepam matter, in which he permitted the lighting of the traditional Karthigai Deepam atop the Thiruparankundram hill in Madurai, a site that houses a temple as well as a nearby dargah. In his ruling, the judge directed that the ceremonial lamp be lit on the historic “Deepathoon” pillar by December 4, holding that the ritual would not infringe upon the religious rights of the Muslim community.

The controversy revolves around a customary shift. For more than a century, the lamp was traditionally lit at a “Deepa Mandapam” near the Uchi Pillaiyar Temple on the hill which is a lower, widely accepted spot. But this year, petitioners sought the ancient Deepathoon on the hill as the site for lighting, arguing that ritual tradition and temple ownership supported their claim.

Filed by Advocate GS Mani, the plea stated that several individuals, including certain persons claiming association with DMK and Communist Party of India (CPI/CPM), are freely circulating defamatory, derogatory, abusive and scandalous posts in the social media platforms such as X, Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp and other digital forums, making highly objectionable remarks against Justice G.R. Swaminathan, Judge, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court.

As per the petitioner, the protests crossed constitutionally permissible limits of criticism and entered the realm of scandalizing the judiciary, communalization of judicial acts, and interference with the administration of justice. "It is reported in multiple news outlets that groups identifying themselves with political parties and certain lawyer associations have conducted protests in front of the Madras & Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court and other court premises, demanding resignation of the sitting Judge and attributing improper motives to a judicial decision. Such acts, if left unchecked, pose a serious threat to the independence of the judiciary, a basic feature of the Constitution", the plea stated.

Supreme Court has been told that judges cannot be subjected to street protests, political pressure or social media intimidation for their judicial orders, as the only constitutionally recognized remedy against a judicial decision is through appeal, review or other lawful procedures. Allowing protests and campaigns against sitting judges will have a chilling effect on judicial independence and discourage judges from discharging their duties fearlessly, the plea submits.

The plea accordingly sought legal and police actions including registration of FIR against individual, advocates and other social political party, association or body made hate speech, scandalize remarks, defamatory campaigns, threats to the judges and conducting illegal unlawful demonstration protest or agitation in public places and in front of the Madras/Madurai High Court & other District Courts premises, and direct them to submit status report and enforce protections for judicial independence.

Case Title: Advocate GS Mani vs. Govt of Tamil Nadu and Ors.

Bench: Justices Kumar and Varale

Affidavit filed on Date: January 31, 2026