Who is Justice Swaminathan? Madras High Court judge whom over 100 Opposition MPs want ousted; Here’s everything we know so far

On December 9, more than 100 Opposition MPs submitted a formal notice to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla seeking permission to initiate a motion to impeach Madras High Court judge Justice GR Swaminathan. The manifesto, personally delivered by several prominent political figures, including DMK parliamentary leader Kanimozhi, TR Baalu, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, calls for the judge’s removal based on allegations of malpractice.

MPs have expressed concern over Justice Swaminathan’s impartiality, transparency and commitment to secular values, citing various judgments that they claim are influenced by political ideology. They accused him of favoritism, particularly towards a senior lawyer and members of a particular community, and argued that these actions undermined the impartiality expected of a Supreme Court judge. The statement also alleges that some judicial decisions are against the secular foundations of the Constitution of India.

Who is Justice GR Swaminathan?

Born in 1968, Justice GR Swaminathan started his career as a first-generation lawyer in Chennai and later in Madurai. He served as Deputy Solicitor General before being appointed to the Madras High Court in 2017. Over the years, Justice Swaminathan has gained reputation for his landmark decisions on issues related to freedom of expression, prisoners’ rights and animal rights. He has made significant contributions to the judicial environment by presenting more than 52,000 judgments and orders to date.

Controversial Decision Created Confusion

The latest controversy surrounding Justice Swaminathan broke out following his December 1, 2025 order directing the Subramaniya Swamy temple in Tamil Nadu to ensure lighting of a lamp in the deep lake in Madurai located on the Thiruparankundram hillock. The area has long been a source of tension between the temple administration and the adjacent dargah. Justice Swaminathan ruled that lighting the lamp would not violate the rights of the nearby Muslim community.

However, when the temple authorities failed to implement the directive, the judge issued a second order on December 3, allowing the devotees to light the lamp themselves and ordering the CISF to ensure security. This escalation led the DMK-led state government to approach the Supreme Court seeking intervention.

Opposition parties took up the issue; MPs claimed the judge’s actions reflected a political and religious bias, thus compromising his role as an impartial arbiter of the law. The ongoing controversy has put a spotlight on Justice Swaminathan’s conduct, with many calling for a broader review of his judicial impartiality.

As the situation evolves, the issue of Justice Swaminathan’s impeachment will spark further debate in Indian politics and raise questions about the balance between judicial independence and public expectations of a secular and impartial judiciary.