Justice Swaminathan Impeachment Motion Weak Amid Deepam Row

• Justice GR Swaminathan faces an impeachment motion by 107 INDIA bloc MPs, led by the DMK.
• The motion stems from his order allowing the Karthigai Deepam lamp on Thirupparankundram hills and allegations of favouring a senior advocate.
• Critics, including 56 former judges and Home Minister Amit Shah, argue a judicial ruling is not grounds for impeachment.
• Impeachment requires proven misbehaviour or incapacity, not controversial judgments or errors, making this motion legally weak.
• The Speaker can reject motions that do not disclose specific, verifiable instances of abuse of office.

Why It Matters: Political attempts to impeach a judge raise concerns about judicial autonomy.