Madras High Court Sets Limits on Protests Targeting Judges

The Madras High Court directed Tamil Nadu authorities to assess proposed protests about judicial matters case by case, deny permission for gatherings aimed at personally targeting sitting judges, and stop permitted events that turn into personal attacks. The order, issued by a bench led by Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan, also calls for appropriate legal action when an assembly becomes a personal attack. The court closed a public interest petition filed by R Karthikeyan. The judges distinguished criticism of a ruling from attacks on the judge who issued it. They said a blanket ban on public discussion or peaceful gatherings concerning court decisions would go too far and infringe on legitimate democratic expression. The court said coordinated abuse, defamation or intimidation directed at a sitting judge is not protected as ordinary criticism of a legal conclusion. The petition followed protests over a June 25, 2026, High Court judgment concerning reservation eligibility for people from certain social categories who convert to Islam. The judgment held that conversion alone did not entitle a person to claim benefits under the Backward Class...