Madras HC Initiates Suo Motu Contempt Against Publisher Over Book Allegedly Targeting Sitting Judge [Read Order]

Chennai: The Madras High Court has initiated suo motu criminal contempt proceedings against a publisher and directed the police to take immediate action to prevent the release and circulation of a book allegedly containing highly derogatory and abusive content targeting a sitting Judge of the Court.

The Division Bench of Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G. Arul Murugan passed the order on January 7, 2026, on a writ petition filed by P. Naveenprasad, highlighting that Keezhaikaatru Publishers, the fifth respondent, was planning to release the book on January 8, 2026, at the opening of the Chennai Book Fair.

The Court noted that the matter was of “serious concern” and required emergent attention. The petitioner stated in his affidavit that the publisher and persons associated with it were going to release a book bearing a title containing the specific name of a sitting Judge of the Court in “extremely derogatory language.”

Counsel for the petitioner submitted that a copy of the title page/front page of the book was being circulated in the media, including on social media, and placed the same on record for the Court’s perusal.

Upon examining the document, the Court observed:

“Having perused the said document, which is said to be the title page/front page of the book proposed to be released/published on 08.01.2026 at the opening of the Chennai Book Fair, at once, it would show that the pictorial representation, the caricature and the expressions/words used are not only highly derogatory, but virtually abusive. The pictorial representation directly points out the face and name of a sitting Judge of this Court.”

The Additional Solicitor General of India and the Additional Government Pleader appearing for the State submitted that if this was to be the title of a book, it was “apparently derogatory, abusive and highly contemptuous, as it tends to scandalise the Court and erode public confidence in the system.”

The Court further noted that the title of the book indicated that it was proposed to be released on January 8, 2026, from Shop Nos. 172 and 173 at the Chennai Book Fair. The fifth respondent publisher had been allotted Shop No. 173.

The Court held:

“On the face of it, the proposed release of the book, as titled and shown in the petition, is highly derogatory and abusive, crosses all limits, and needs to be dealt with by the Court with stern hands.”

The Bench directed the State counsel representing the police officials (Respondents 2, 3 and 4) to “take immediate and effective action to ensure that no such book having such pictorial representation, statements, caricature or contents tending to scandalise the Court/Judge is allowed to be published and circulated.”

The Court specifically directed that appropriate action be taken by the police authorities, “including ensuring that such scandalous publications do not take place, which may include seizure of pictorial representations and contents of the nature stated above, through any means, including electronic media.”

Significantly, the Court stated:

“On the basis of the material which we find in the petition, we are inclined to initiate suo motu criminal contempt against the fifth respondent.”

The Court issued emergent notice to the fifth respondent, including private notice to be served at Stall No. 173 at the Chennai Book Fair, making the notice returnable in three weeks. The Court also directed the State counsel to submit a report on compliance with the directions on the next hearing date.

The matter has been listed for hearing on January 28, 2026. The Court further directed that the order be uploaded on the same day, i.e., January 7, 2026.

Case Title: P. Naveenprasad v. Home Secretary, State of Tamil Nadu and Others

[Read Order]