‘When you protect Vedas, the Vedas protect you’: Madras High Court Judge

Chennai: Madras High Court Judge Justice GR Swaminathan recently shared a personal experience that transformed his perspective on the spiritual significance of the Vedas. Speaking at a National Vedic Talent Meet organised by a trust last week, the judge recounted a legal case from his days as a practising lawyer that left a lasting impact on him. A video of his speech has since gone viral on social media.

Justice Swaminathan narrated the story of a Vedic scholar, a ‘Shastri’, deeply learned in the Vedas and Shastras, who was wrongfully convicted in a motor vehicle accident case that led to the death of a man. The scholar, a long-time friend of the judge, had been sentenced to 18 months in prison, a sentence far harsher than the usual six months handed down in such cases.

Recounting the incident, the judge said the scholar had been travelling with his sister, who was visiting from the US, and her children. During a temple tour, she was driving the car when the accident occurred. The vehicle hit a man standing near a tea stall, resulting in his death.

However, due to his sister’s urgent return to the US, the scholar claimed responsibility for the accident and surrendered to the police, as reported by PTI. During the trial, he continued to appear in court in his traditional attire, dhoti, upper cloth, and sporting a shikha (tuft), as per Vedic customs. According to the scholar, his appearance may have influenced the court’s decision.

What stood out to Justice Swaminathan, upon reviewing the case, was the lack of any evidence against the scholar. Not a single witness identified him as the driver, either during the investigation or in court. Despite this, he was convicted.

Determined to correct the injustice, Swaminathan filed an appeal and argued the case based on the absence of evidence. The judge who heard the appeal was a former classmate of Swaminathan's. After reviewing the facts, the appellate court acquitted the scholar, stating there was no basis for the conviction.

Reflecting on the incident, Justice Swaminathan said, "That day I realised that when we protect the Vedas, the Vedas protect us. Until then, I didn’t have a deep interest in these matters. But this case changed me."

He emphasised how miraculous it seemed that none of the eight witnesses claimed to have seen the scholar driving the car. All testified only that the vehicle went out of control and hit the victim.

PTI inputs