Justice GR Swaminathan Reflects on Vedic Protection After Legal Encounter

Chennai, July 30 (PTI): Justice GR Swaminathan of the Madras High Court has remarked on the protective nature of the Vedas, reflecting on a personal encounter and subsequent legal case that altered his viewpoint.

During a national Vedic talent meet, Justice Swaminathan recounted a case involving a Vedic scholar friend, a 'Shastri,' who was convicted and sentenced to 18 months in prison following a motor vehicle accident resulting in a fatality.

The address, now circulating on social media, detailed that the Shastri—a Vaidika Brahmin well-versed in Vedas and Shastras—was a long-time acquaintance of Justice Swaminathan, who at that time was still a practising lawyer.

Justice Swaminathan recalled being incredulous when informed that his friend, a respected Vedic pundit, had been convicted. The incident occurred when the pundit's sister, visiting from the US, was traveling with her children and brother to various temples, with her driving.

Unfortunately, their car was involved in an accident, resulting in a man's death outside a tea stall. The sister had to return to America, prompting the scholar to take responsibility for driving negligently, leading to his arrest and conviction.

Typically, such cases result in a six-month jail term; however, the Shastri received 18 months, which the scholar attributed to his traditional attire in court.

Upon reviewing the case, Justice Swaminathan found a lack of witness testimony identifying the driver, with no evidence directly implicating his friend.

As a practising lawyer, Swaminathan appealed the case, emphasizing the absence of identification evidence.

Fortunately for the scholar, the appeal judge was an old classmate of Swaminathan, who secured an acquittal due to the lack of evidence.

This experience sparked Justice Swaminathan’s belief that by preserving the Vedas, one could find protection within them. He admitted prior skepticism on the matter but found it enlightening that none of the eight witnesses identified the Shastri as the driver, despite the chaotic scene of the incident.

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