Last Updated:December 13, 2025, 07:00 IST Impeachment Motion Against Justice Swaminathan: Can a high court judge be impeached? What is the procedure? The DMK has moved an impeachment motion against Justice GR Swaminathan. (Image: hcmadras.tn.nic.in & PTI) Justice GR Swaminathan, the Madras High Court (HC) judge who allowed the lighting of the Karthigai Deepam lamp atop Thirupparankundram hills, is facing an impeachment motion. Can a high court judge be impeached? What is the procedure? What is the controversy involving Justice GR Swaminathan? The motion stemmed from Swaminathan’s December 2025 order permitting the lighting of the Karthigai Deepam lamp on the ‘Deepathoon’ pillar atop the hill at the Thirupparankundram Subramaniaswamy hill — a site also housing a 14th-century dargah. The judge emphasised the need to assert possession over temple property. When the temple did not comply with the order, the court subsequently directed that the lamp be lit on the upper pillar as well. The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and its allies argued this order undermined a 2017 bench ruling that disallowed court interference in temple …