Madras HC Takes Suo Motu Cognisance Against TN Minister K Ponmudy Over Vulgar Remarks On Shaivite And Vaishnavite Symbols

Chennai: Trouble brewed for controversial Tamil Nadu Forests Minister K Ponmudy om Wednesday with Justice N Anand Venkatesh of the Madras High Court ordering to suo motu take up a writ petition against him over his recent vulgar remarks on religious symbols of the Shaivites and Vaishnavites. The action came after the Tamil Nadu Police informed the court no offence was made out against the Minister.

The judge directed the court Registry to place the suo motu case before the Chief Justice to decide on the further course of action on the administrative side. A video of the Minister's controversial remarks at a meeting gone viral over a week ago.

"Prima facie, it was evident that the video demeans the moral worth of sex workers particularly women, and was calculated to subvert harmony and peace of religious groups and various sects.. Apart from being obscene, the speech also undoubtedly wounds the religious feelings of the Shaivites and Vaishnavites and is aimed at insulting the Hindu religion and religious feelings of these religious groups," the judge held.

These comments, he added, on the face of it are completely derogatory of women and deliberately spews venom and hatred on the two main sects of Hinduism, namely Shaivism and Vaishnavism.

"Prima facie, the acts of the Minister appears to constitute hate speech and attract the ingredients of offences under Sections 79, 196 (1)(b), 296 (a), 299 and 302 of BNS," he said.

"Symbols have a sacred spiritual significance. The available clip that was played in the court shows that the Minister has now likened these sacred religious symbols with sexual positions offered by a prostitute," he said.

"The continued inaction and hesitation of Tamil Nadu Police is most distressing and unfortunate," the judge said adding Ponmudy has misused liberty granted by the Supreme Court, which had suspended his conviction in a corruption case.

"He owes his position as a minister and enjoys liberty by virtue of Supreme Court's interim order. He has misused his liberty by making this highly derogatory hate speech," the judge said.