HC says book on Deepam row judge 'abusive', stays release

The Madras HC on Wednesday stayed the release, circulation and sale of a book allegedly targeting Justice GR Swaminathan, the judge who heard the case on the lighting of a temple lamp on the hilltop in Madurai.

- N Chithra

Holding that publication of the book raised serious concerns relating to the dignity and institutional authority of the judiciary, a Bench of Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Srivastava and Justice Arul Murugan passed the interim order on a writ petition filed by Advocate P Naveenprasad.

It also initiated contempt proceedings against the publishers and directed the police to seize copies of the book, Bar & Bench and Live Law report. The HC said it had perused the title page and front cover of the book, which was proposed to be released on January 8 at Chennai Book Fair.

"Having perused the said document... at once, would show that the pictorial representation, the caricature and the expressions/words used are not only highly derogatory, but virtually abusive.