I have been invited by a senior lawyer of the Bar from Madurai (when he is calling “neutral” advocates in an open forum where I am also a member advocate in that forum) to convene and consolidate against the constitutional impeachment proceeding which was taken against His Lordship Mr. Justice G.R. Swaminathan by the Tamilnadu State Government as per the norms and conditions of the Indian Constitution. [Would they do this for Justice J. Nisha Banu?]
I have heard that, after the calling mentioned above, a few advocates have prepared a memorandum, signed it and sent it to the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
First of all, sending this memorandum to the speaker is nothing but a 100th social media comment only.
Second, there is no such thing as ‘neutral’, either right or left, either this side or that side (when a bulldozer is arriving, you cannot stand in the middle, if there are two persons where one is a thief and the other is a victim, if you are neutral, then you are also a thief). Thus, sending the memorandum is not a ‘sine-qua-non’ but directly defying the constitutional procedure.
Right! When the “Thiruparangundram” issue erupted, causing turmoil, the State Government handled it admirably within the scope of its authority and as per the law and got applause all over the world (I, as a citizen of Tamil Nadu and India, also appreciated it). The action of the Tamil Nadu State Government reminded me of the following Thirukkural (one of the Sangam Literature, as we all know)
“குடிபுறங் காத்தோம்பிக் குற்றம் கடிதல்
வடுவன்று வேந்தன் தொழில்”
(குறள்.549)
The Judiciary has taken its view against the State Government’s action and took contempt action against the Executives. This view, in my opinion, is against the following Kural:
அந்தணர் நூற்கும் அறத்திற்கும் ஆதியாய்
[பொருட்பால், அரசியல், செங்கோன்மை- குறள் 543] [அறிவுள்ளவர் கூறும் அறத்திற்கு மூலமாக/முன்பாக நிற்கிறது மக்களால் தேர்ந்தெடுக்கப்பட்ட மன்னவனுடைய கோல் (செயல்)]
நின்றது மன்னவன் கோல்
Later, the State Government moved an impeachment proceeding against the sitting justice of the Hon’ble Madras High Court, Madurai Bench, Hon’ble Mr Justice G.R. Swaminathan. J is within the State Government limits and perfectly follows the norms of the Constitution.
As a citizen of India and a part of the legal fraternity, there is no bar to advising the impeachment committee to decide the impeachment proceeding in accordance with the following Thirukkural, which may or may not be contrary to the Tamil Nadu State Government.
“ஓர்ந்து கண்ணோடாது இறைபுரிந்து யார்மாட்டும்
தேர்ந்து செய்வதே முறை”
(குறள்.541)
However, mailing a memorandum to the speaker of Lok Sabha after initiating the constitutional impeachment procedure that was initiated by 120 MPs who were elected by crores and crores of people, with a quote that these 120 MPs are ‘crossing the Lakshman rekha‘ demonstrates that these lawyers are not even worried about the people’s power.
Right where and why would this ‘Lakshman Rekha’ come from?
“கூப்பிடும் தூரத்தில் தமிழ்க் கடவுளே இருக்க, மதுரை வளர்த்த சங்க தமிழ் மேற்கோள்கள் அருகில் இருக்க, லக்ஷ்மண ரேகை எங்கிருந்து வந்தது”
However, I must quote and remember the speech of renowned and eminent jurist Thiru. Fali S. Nariman as ‘momento‘:
“As the Ramayana itself depicts, the Lakshman Rekha can be crossed only when necessary but when it is done, it is always and only for a good cause. That is the answer for those who say that the Lakshman Rekha cannot be crossed,”
Coming back to the square one! These advocates sending memorandum is nothing but Attention Seeking only. By action of these advocates, I request the General Public not to decide the entire legal fraternity will be like this.
Finally, I ‘carpe diem‘ as follow:
நாடா கொன்றோ; காடா கொன்றோ;
அவலா கொன்றோ; மிசையா கொன்றோ;
எவ்வழி நல்லவர் ஆடவர்,
அவ்வழி நல்லை; வாழிய நிலனே!
[புறநானூறு.187: பாடியவர்: ஔவையார்: திணை: பொதுவியல்; துறை: பொருண்மொழிக்காஞ்சி]
Yours,
Ramprakash Rajagopal,
Advocate, Tamilnaldu.
