K. Ponmudy. File | Image Source: SR Raghunathan
Madras High Court directed its registration form to accept Suo Motu A written petition on the derogatory speech of Saivites, Vaishnavites and women by Tamil Nadu Forest Minister K. Ponmudy and submits the matter to Chief Justice KR Shriram for appropriate orders.
Justice N. Anand Venkatesh issued instructions on the surface of observing the minister that the Supreme Court abused his freedom, which had granted him the freedom that had been maintained in corruption cases, thus allowing him not only to allow him to avoid the need for imprisonment, but also to continue as minister.
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“He owes him the ministerial position and enjoys freedom by means of the interim order adopted by the Supreme Court, but misunderstood freedom by making this highly derogatory remark,” the judge said.
The judge noted that the Supreme Court suffered a serious decline in hate speech in its 2014 judgment and insisted that law enforcement agencies must act quickly. He added that the High Court has a duty to ensure effective enforcement of the directives of the top courts.
He expressed surprise that the state police did not register the FIR in three complaints by the ministers in Chennai and Madurai, saying: “The ongoing inaction, the police hesitant to register the FIR is the most painful and unfortunate.”
Justice Venkatesh also said: “As a constitutional court, the court has an obligation to ensure that Tamil Nadu police violates the court’s instructions in practice and do not pay oral services to the Supreme Court’s instructions. In practice, matters regarding hate speech can be zero tolerated.”
The judge referred to Article 144 of the Constitution that all authorities must provide assistance to the Supreme Court on Indian territory, and the judge said: “The Tamil Nadu Police Department is no exception.”
He wondered that even after the minister made a public apology and removed from the deputy prime minister of his party’s deputy secretary Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), the agency of the state police may remain motionless even after the minister made a public apology.
The judge said video clips of speech circulating on social media suggest that the minister compares it to Patty (Saivites displays horizontal symbols on their foreheads) and Tiruman (Vaishnavites have vertical symbols on their foreheads) to describe the sexual posture of a sex worker.
“Prima Facie, it is obvious that the video devalues the moral values of sex workers, especially women, and aims to subvert harmony and peace between religious groups and various denominations. Apart from obsceneness, the speech undoubtedly hurts the religious feelings of Saivites and vashnavites and aims to make Hinduivion and religious groups of religious and lawyers aimed at observing.
Earlier, during the debate, P. Wilson, a senior attorney representing the state, told the court that police had passed the complaint but found no crime. He also submitted it to the court that a judge and the Judiciary Court of Madras High Court had rejected the written petition filed in this regard.
Speech cutoff and circulating
Mr Wilson also said another petition for public interest litigation filed by defense attorney B. Jagannath is expected to list the FIR against Minsiter before the First Division judge led by the Chief Justice. Mr Wilson wanted to know who forwarded the cut-off video clip to the judge, saying: “Sanges is very popular in favor of the court’s idea.”
Vikas Singh, senior legal counsel representing the minister, told the court that the speech was delivered at a closed-door meeting organized by Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam. He said the minister only repeated what he said 40 years ago, but the truncated version of the speech was circulating on social media, so the minister apologized only for that truncated part.
The judge raised a question of derogatory terms at the hearing Suo Motu The amended petition filed by the court in 2023 acquitted Mr. Pommoody in another corruption case. Justice Venkatesh adjourned the meeting in 2023 after citing issues related to the Chief Justice’s opposition speech Suo Motu Revised the petition until June 2025.
publishing – April 23, 2025 at 06:34 pm IST
