Overview
- The court issued an interim stay on release, circulation and sale of the Tamil booklet, including any display at the Chennai Book Fair or online.
- Police were directed to seize all copies and to serve notices at the publisher’s allotted stalls at the fair, with authorities told to ensure no circulation through digital platforms.
- The bench initiated suo motu criminal contempt against the publisher, citing content it called highly derogatory, abusive and intended to scandalise a sitting judge.
- Judges stressed that legal criticism is permissible but personal attacks on judges cross permissible limits and risk eroding public confidence in the judiciary.
- The dispute stems from Justice G.R. Swaminathan’s December 1 order permitting the Karthigai Deepam lamp at Thirupparankundram, which a division bench upheld on January 6, and a separate police complaint against the publishers was filed the same day as the court’s orders.