'Tweet has crossed the lakshman rekha': Judge initiates contempt proceedings against Savukku Shankar

The Madras High Court yesterday initiated contempt proceedings against blogger and commentator Savukku Shankar for a tweet against Justice GR Swaminathan.

Justice Swaminathan directed the registry of the Madurai bench to register a suo motu case of contempt.

"He is unsparing in his attack on individuals and institutions including the judiciary," said the order. "While even strident criticism is permissible, defamatory vilification is not. He has been focusing his gaze on me for the last several months. He has commented on many of my judgements in the most uncharitable language."

The order continued, "Since I am a strong believer in upholding freedom of speech and expression, I did not pay heed to them. However, his latest tweet appears to have crossed the lakshman rekha."

The tweet was posted on July 18 and was in the context of the Madurai bench, which included Justice Swaminathan, quashing criminal proceedings against YouTuber Maridhas last year. Shankar's tweet suggested that the judge had "met" someone who then influenced him in favour of Maridhar.

Justice Swaminathan said Shankar had "questioned my integrity" through the tweet. "This is clearly scandalising the judiciary," the order said.

The judge also noted this tweet by Shankar, complaining that the former whistleblower was "poking fun at my sitting hours".

On Shankar's Twitter account recently being suspended, the order said, "But he has managed to create an alternative account. In mythology, whenever the head of an asura is slayed, another one will pop up."

Shankar's response to the contempt proceedings was a series of tweets about Justice Swaminathan.

The order also directed the registry to serve notices to Twitter, Facebook and YouTube to furnish details of complaints filed against Shankar and the corresponding action taken on such complaints.