K. Ponmudy. File | Photo Credit: M. Vedhan
Politicians in power should not be considered as a king and queen and expect sovereign immunity below the statutory maximum Rex No Potest Peccare (King can do nothing wrong), Judge P. Velmurugan from the Madras High Court said on Tuesday (July 8, 2025).
He watched the observations when the advocate (AG) PS Raman said, the police closed all 124 complaints against the former Minister K. Ponmudy for his defamatory speech against saivites, VaiSnavit and women in general.
The justice of Velmurugan was confused, as such manifestations could be presented, Judge N. Anand Venkatesh correctly took Suo Motu knowledge of expression, because late politicians seemed to cross the limits in the presentation of public speeches.
“They (politicians) have to understand that we live in a democratic country … Just because they receive a microphone, they cannot think they can speak anything and everything … they have to respect other people. They are also one of the citizens,” Ag said.
When Ag pointed out that the former minister remembered only something that was said in the past about meeting a sex worker, the judge asked if it would be a crime to remember such derogatory notes on the public forum.
Regarding the AG claim that the complainants were not unquestionable and that they could always approach higher officials at the police department against the closure of their complaints, the judge decided to maintain the SUO MOT case ongoing and monitoring higher activities.
A judge who explains that all 124 complainants must be delivered with reports of closure from the relevant police officers Jurisdiction, decided to find out how many of them would approach higher officers against the closure of their complaints and what steps the officials would take.
He ordered the register of the High Court to mention the SUO Motu petition for another hearing of 1 August 2025.
What is it about?
Mr. Ponmuda worked as a minister of forest when the speech was presented at a meeting organized by Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam (TPDK) in Chennai 8 April 2025.
President and main Minister DMK MK Stalin initially released Mr. Ponmudy of The Party Post and then threw it from the cabinet on April 27, 2025.
Justice Venkatesh took Suo Motu knowledge of the speech at about the same time since he then heard another petition of Suo Motu, which was in connection with disproportionate assets. Subsequently, the matter was listed before the judiciary of Velmurugan when it currently holds a portfolio of MP/MLA.
Published – 8 July 2025 12:50
