A Division Bench headed by Justice G.R. Swaminathan of the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Monday directed the High Court Registry to place before the Chief Justice the papers regarding advocate S. Vanchinathan accusing Justice Swaminathan of exhibiting caste bias.
A Division Bench of Justices G.R. Swaminathan and K. Rajasekar had said Mr. Vanchinathan had been giving interviews to YouTube Channels accusing the judge of caste bias. On July 24, when he appeared before the court, he declined to answer to the question if he stood by his imputation, and instead sought a written questionnaire. A pre-cognisance notice was issued to him and he was directed to appear on July 28.
The court said during the intervening weekend, a press conference was held and a statement was published on behalf of a few retired judges questioning the process adopted by the bench. “We have to record our dismay as to how such interference with the judicial process can be made. Several assumptions which have no factual basis have been made. We characterise their approach as most unfortunate,” the judges said.
Contending the proceedings had nothing to do with Mr. Vanchinathan’s earlier complaint to the Chief Justice of India against the judge, the court said it issued the notice only because of the “persistent campaign being conducted by Mr. Vanchinathan” in social media.
