HC Bans ‘Scandalous’ Book Targeting Judge After Upholding Stone Pillar Karthigai Deepam Verdict.

Madras High Court Bans ‘Scandalous’ Book Targeting Deepam Verdict Judge; Publisher Faces Contempt After Upholding Hilltop Karthigai Deepam Ruling at Thiruparankundram.

B Upendran | HENB | Chennai | Jan 9, 2026:: In a significant assertion of judicial authority, the Madras High Court on Wednesday prohibited the publication, sale, and circulation of a Tamil book containing allegedly scandalous and abusive remarks against a sitting High Court judge. The court also initiated suo motu contempt proceedings against the publisher, Keezhaikaatru Publishers, observing that the contents prima facie amounted to an attempt to scandalise the judiciary.

The book, titled as ‘TiruparanKundram Issue, Justice G.R. Swaminathan, is he a judge or is he an RSS rowdy?’ which was scheduled for release at the Chennai Book Fair beginning January 8, was alleged to target Justice G.R. Swaminathan of the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court. The controversial references were reportedly linked to Justice Swaminathan’s judicial orders in the sensitive Karthigai Deepam case concerning the lighting of a ceremonial lamp atop Thiruparankundram hill in Madurai.

The orders were passed by the first bench comprising Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G. Arul Murugan on a petition filed by advocate P. Naveenprasad. The petitioner contended that the book’s title, caricatures, and narrative were deliberately designed to malign a sitting judge for the discharge of his judicial functions.

“On the face of it, the proposed release of the book, as titled and shown in the petition, is highly derogatory and abusive, crosses all limits, and needs to be dealt with stern hands by the court,” the bench observed, underscoring that freedom of expression cannot extend to vilification of judges or erosion of public confidence in the justice delivery system.

The High Court directed the Tamil Nadu Police to take immediate and effective steps to ensure that no copies of the book—containing any pictorial representation, caricature, statements, or material tending to scandalise the court or the judge—are published or circulated. The state government has been asked to file a compliance report by January 28.

Keezhaikaatru Publishers has historically been associated in literary and activist circles with the Revolutionary Students and Youth Federation (RSYF) and other Left-wing groups in Tamil Nadu, though no formal organisational link was adjudicated upon in the present proceedings.

Background: The Karthigai Deepam Controversy

The controversy has its roots in a long-standing dispute over the lighting of the Karthigai Deepam—a sacred ceremonial lamp—at a stone pillar on the hilltop of Thiruparankundram, a site that is both archaeologically protected and religiously sensitive.

On December 1 last year, Justice G.R. Swaminathan, sitting as a single judge of the Madurai Bench, allowed a petition filed by Hindu Tamil Party leader Rama Ravikumar, directing authorities to permit the lighting of the Deepam on the festival day. However, the order was not implemented after the district administration cited potential law and order concerns, given that the hill also houses a dargah and has been a flashpoint for communal sensitivities.

On January 6, a division bench of the Madurai High Court comprising Justice G. Jayachandran and Justice K.K. Ramakrishnan upheld Justice Swaminathan’s order, effectively bringing judicial closure to the issue. The bench remarked that the controversy surrounding the lighting of the Deepam had been “politicised unnecessarily” and observed that the district administration should have treated the matter as an opportunity to bridge communal divides through mediation rather than allowing tensions to escalate.

While permitting the lighting of the lamp, the court clarified that public access to the ceremony would be restricted and that the process must be carried out in consultation with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), as the hill is a protected monument under law. The bench emphasised that any activity at the site must strictly comply with statutory provisions governing protected sites.

Temple authorities maintained before the court that the hilltop pillar is the traditional spot where the Karthigai Deepam has been lit for over a century, in accordance with established customs and Agama practices. The state government and certain opposing parties, however, argued that there was no conclusive proof of a historical lamp pillar at the site and reiterated fears of potential law and order disturbances.

Tragic Fallout

The dispute took a tragic turn when protests intensified over the issue, reportedly leading to the death of a 40-year-old man who immolated himself, allegedly distressed by the prolonged controversy. The incident added to the gravity of the situation and heightened public and political scrutiny.

Court Draws the Line

By banning the book and initiating contempt proceedings, the Madras High Court has drawn a clear line between legitimate criticism and what it considers a deliberate attempt to undermine judicial authority. The case now proceeds on two parallel tracks—compliance with the ban on publication and the adjudication of contempt proceedings against the publisher—both of which are expected to be closely watched in Tamil Nadu’s already charged socio-political climate.

_Inputs from India Today, NDTV and CNN-New18.