Madras High Court to take up suo motu writ against T.N. Minister Ponmudy’s derogatory speech

Madras High Court directs action against Tamil Nadu Forest Minister for derogatory speech, highlighting importance of hate speech laws.

The Madras High Court on Wednesday (April 23, 2025) directed its Registry to take up a suo motu writ petition with respect to a derogatory speech delivered by Tamil Nadu Forest Minister K. Ponmudy against Saivites, Vaishnavites and women in general and to place the matter before Chief Justice K.R. Shriram for appropriate orders.

Justice N. Anand Venkatesh issued the direction after observing that the Minister had prima facie misused the liberty granted to him by the Supreme Court which had stayed his conviction as well as sentence in a corruption case thereby allowing him to not only avoid the need for incarceration but also continue as a Minister.

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“He owes his position as a Minister and enjoys the liberty by virtue of interim orders passed by the Supreme Court but has misued the liberty by making this highly derogatory speech,” the judge said and expressed displeasure over the police not having registered a First Information Report (FIR) against the Minister so far.

The judge pointed out that the Supreme Court had in a 2014 judgement come down heavily on those making hate speeches and insisted that the law enforcing agencies must act against such individuals promptly. It was the duty of the High Courts to ensure that the directives of the top court were implemented effectively, he added.

Expressing surprise over the State police not having registered a FIR despite receipt of as many as three complaints against the Minister in Chennai and Madurai, he said: “The continued inaction and hesitation of the police in registering a FIR against the Minister is most distressing and unfortunate.”

Justice Venkatesh also said: “As a constitutional court, this court is under an obligation to ensure that the Tamil Nadu Police do not pay lip service to the directions of the Supreme Court by flouting them in practice. In matters concerning hate speech, there can be zero tolerance.”