India, Dec. 19 -- The threat of impeachment against a serving judge has upset the balance of power recently. And because it follows a court order the government did not agree with, it makes the situation even more sensitive. The issue of lighting the Karthigai Deepam on the Thiruparankundram hill has grown beyond the initial circumstances. It is no longer just about a single court order or a ritual. It now probes whether constitutional institutions can hold their ground when judicial protection of religious practice runs up against political and bureaucratic resistance.
The correctness of Justice G.R. Swaminathan's decision is no longer the central issue. Indian courts often deliver judgements that invite debate, and the Constitution provi...