'Don't Test Our Patience': Madras High Court Slams Personal Comments Against Judge Amid Thiruparankundram Deepam Issue, Warns Of Action

While dealing with the Thiruparankundram lamp lighting row, the Madras High Court on Friday remarked that it would not tolerate any comments against the judiciary.

The bench of Justice G Jayachandran and Justice KK Ramakrishnan said just because judges cannot react openly, persons should not keep on provoking the court and that strict action would be taken if limits exceed.

"We can tolerate to some extent. If it exceeds, we'll take action. You know that they have exceeded. They can't keep on provoking, making (remarks). Just because the courts and judges are not supposed to react, they can't take advantage of it."

The judges made the oral remarks while hearing the appeal against a single judge order asking the management of Arulmighu Subramaniya Swamy Temple to light the Karthigai Deepam lamp at 6 pm on December 3rd. The court has decided to hear all appeals against the single judge's order on December 12 (Friday).

When the appeals were taken up today, Advocate MR Venkatesh (representing the writ petitioners) informed the bench that personal caste based attacks were being made against the single judge (Justice GR Swaminathan).

Hearing this, the court commented that such persons should remember not to test the patience of the court and that they cannot degrade the judiciary.  

"Persons violating law think there won't be any reaction. Please instruct your clients not to test the patience of court and degrade the judiciary," the court said.

It also warned that this is the last resort for everyone and no matter who the person is, if they continue to demoralise the judicial institution, action will be taken.

"Whether you're in power or not, you have tongue or no tongue. Whatever it is, if you're going to demoralise the institution, the constitution will remain only in paper," the judges said.