Thirty-six former judges on Saturday (December 20, 2025) gave a call to people, including parliamentarians, to denounce opposition leaders' move to impeach Madras High Court judge Justice G.R. Swaminathan, saying such an attempt, if allowed to proceed, would cut at the very roots of democracy and independence of the judiciary. On December 1, Justice Swaminathan held that the Arulmighu Subramania Swamy Temple was duty-bound to light the lamp at the Deepathoon, in addition to the customary lighting near the Uchi Pillaiyar Mandapam. The single-judge bench said that doing so would not encroach upon the rights of the adjacent dargah or the Muslim community. The statement said the opposition party's move is not an "isolated aberration".

Source: The Hindu December 20, 2025 10:33 UTC