Justice G. R. Swaminathan | |
|---|---|
| Judge of Madras High Court | |
| In office 28 June 2017 –31 May 2030 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1968 (age 56–57) |
G. R. Swaminathan is an Indian judge of the Madras High Court.
G. R. Swaminathan was born in 1968. He hails from Thiruvarur. [1] He completed his law degree (B.L.) in Central Law College,Salem and Dr. Ambedkar Government Law College. [2]
In 1991,he became an advocate. In 1997,he established an independent practice in Puducherry,and in 2004,he relocated to Madurai after the Madras High Court established the Madurai Bench. In 2014,he was chosen as the Assistant Solicitor General of India for the High Court's Madurai Bench. [1] There were allegations that Swaminathan,during his tenure as an Additional Solicitor General,had participated in a programme organised by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). [3]
In the 17th Annual Talent Parade of Vedic Scholars in Chennai on 30 July 2025,In his address,he recounted a case from his days as a practicing lawyer in which he helped overturn the conviction of his friend and a Vedic scholar who had falsely confessed to a fatal accident to protect his sister,who had actually caused the accident that resulted in a man’s death on the spot. He highlighted,that none of the eyewitnesses identified the scholar as the driver,which became the key point in securing the acquittal. He described the outcome as an example of “If you protect the Vedas,Vedas protect you”calling it a turning point in his spiritual outlook. The speech attracted attention against the backdrop of a separate controversy,where an advocate accused him of caste bias,prompting the Madras High Court to refer the matter to the Chief Justice. [4] [5] [6]
He was appointed as an additional judge of the Madras High Court on 28 June 2017. [2] He is due to retire from service on 31 May 2030. [7] Swaminathan was appointed as a permanent judge of the Madras High Court in April 2019. [8]
Swaminathan was a part of the Hindu Munnani in 2015. [9]
A lawyer representing Democratic Advocates' Association,wrote to the Madras High Court's Chief Justice in July 2022,requesting the resignation of Swaminathan,who had lauded BJP leader K. Annamalai in a court case,based on the premise that the court must be impartial and cannot endorse any political party. [10] [11] The association asserted that Swaminathan's continued position is a threat to the autonomy of the Judiciary as it would instil fear among people to express concerns against the BJP. [12] [11]
Arun Kumar v. Inspector General of Registration in this Justice G. R. Swaminathan banned unnecessary medical interventions on Intersex infants and children in Tamil Nadu and this verdict was highly cited in multiple court cases including the recognition of Same Sex Marriage Union or Marriage Equality Case in The Supreme Court of India. [13] The United Nations Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights appreciated the judgement in her report [14] and this verdict is highlighted in the Intersex Legal Mapping 2023 by ILGA World. [15] [16]
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