Madras high court bans book with 'scandalous' remarks against Deepam judge; publisher slapped with contempt case

CHENNAI: Madras high court on Wednesday prohibited the publication, sale and circulation of a Tamil book containing derogatory remarks against a sitting HC judge, terming the references as highly derogatory and abusive. The HC also initiated suo motu contempt proceedings against the publication - Keezhaikaatru Publishers.

The book is slated to be released at the Chennai Book Fair commencing on January 8.

The orders were passed on a plea moved by advocate P Naveenprasad, who alleged that the book's content was directed against Justice G R Swaminathan of the Madurai bench for his judgement in the Karthigai Deepam case.

"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 first bench of Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G Arul Murugan said.

The court directed Tamil Nadu Police to take immediate and effective action to ensure that no such book containing such pictorial representation, statements, caricature or contents tending to scandalise the court or the judge is allowed to be published and circulated. The court directed the state to submit a report regarding compliance with the directions by Jan 28.

Advocate general P S Raman submitted that the court could pass an order prohibiting the book's release, and the state would implement it.

Governing DMK had last month rallied opposition MPs and submitted an impeachment motion to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla against Justice Swaminathan after he initiated contempt proceedings against govt authorities for repeatedly defying his orders directing lighting of Karthigai Deepam at the 'Deepathoon' (stone pillar for lighting lamps) atop a Thirupparankundram hill in Madurai.

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