New Delhi, Jan 28 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued notice in a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking urgent directions to protect the independence of the judiciary and to prevent “intimidation and communalisation of judicial orders” following recent rulings delivered by Justice G.R. Swaminathan of the Madras High Court permitting the centuries-old Deepam ceremony at the Thiruparankundram temple in Madurai, Tamil Nadu. 

A Bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and P.B. Varale sought responses from the Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary, the Home Secretary, the Director General of Police (DGP), and the Commissioner of Police, Chennai, in the matter. “Issue notice. Learned standing counsel for State of Tamil Nadu accepts notice and is permitted to file status report in regards to steps taken pursuant to representation made by the petitioner-in-person, if any,” the Justice Kumar-led Bench ordered, listing the plea for further hearing on February 2 (Monday).

The PIL, filed by advocate G.S. Mani under Article 32 of the Constitution, stated that the petition has been moved not to defend any individual judge, but “to protect the institution of judiciary, ensure rule of law, prevent communal polarisation, and secure uniform enforcement of constitutional norms across the country”.

Referring to the controversy that erupted after Justice Swaminathan’s orders relating to the Thiruparankundram Deepam issue, the petitioner has alleged that widespread public reactions, including political statements, protests, lawyer demonstrations and social media campaigns, have “crossed the constitutionally permissible limits of criticism and entered the realm of scandalising the judiciary, communalisation of judicial acts, and interference with the administration of justice”.

The petition said that judges cannot be subjected to pressure through street protests or online abuse for their judicial decisions, adding that “the only constitutionally recognised remedy against a judicial decision is through appeal, review or other lawful procedures”. The PIL cautioned that allowing such campaigns against sitting judges would have a “chilling effect on judicial independence and discourage judges from discharging their duties fearlessly”. The plea stated that portraying a judicial pronouncement as religiously motivated “undermines public faith in constitutional courts and emboldens mob-driven justice”, thereby posing a real and imminent threat to public order and communal harmony in Tamil Nadu.

The PIL said that despite the availability of legal provisions under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Information Technology Act and the Contempt of Courts Act, no effective preventive or corrective action has been taken to restrain unlawful assemblies near Madras High Court premises or online hate speech targeting Justice Swaminathan, a constitutional authority. The petitioner said that detailed representations were submitted to the Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, Director General of Police, senior police officials and the Registrar General of the Madras High Court, but “till date no reply, no response and no action” have been taken on his representations.

Seeking intervention by the apex court, the PIL has urged issuance of directions to prevent unlawful protests against courts and judges, safeguard judicial independence from political and communal pressure, ensure action against hate speech and communalisation of judicial orders, and direct the police machinery to uphold public order and constitutional discipline.