Madras HC Judge GR Swaminathan Faces Impeachment Over Deepam Ruling

• Madras High Court Justice GR Swaminathan faces potential impeachment motion from DMK over his ruling allowing Karthigai Deepam lamp lighting atop Thirupparankundram hills.
• Justice Swaminathan's ruling permitted lighting the Karthigai Deepam lamp at a site near a dargah on Thirupparankundram hill, sparking opposition due to communal tension concerns.
• Following the ruling, lawyers have demanded Justice Swaminathan's resignation, accusing him of “hurried and biased” judgments that could disturb public order and undermine secular values.
• Justice GR Swaminathan is a sitting judge at the Madras High Court's Madurai bench, known for his prolific work and for publicly releasing his judicial “performance report.”
• The court held the Deepathoon stone pillar, where the lamp is to be lit, belongs to the temple and is not within the dargah's protected property, viewing the act as an assertion of temple rights.

Why It Matters: A judge's controversial ruling sparks impeachment talks, questioning judicial authority.