Madras High Court Dismisses Criminal Charges Against VCK Leader Thol Thirumavalavan
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Chennai, Jan 2 (NationPress) The Madras High Court has dismissed a criminal case against Thol Thirumavalavan, the founder of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and a Member of Parliament, in connection with allegations regarding the degradation of Indian women, especially Hindu women.
A single-judge bench led by Justice P. Velmurugan ruled on Thursday to quash the complaint, noting that Thirumavalavan’s statements were derived from the Manusmriti, an ancient scripture, rather than being his own invention or fabrication. The judge emphasized that Thirumavalavan had explicitly referenced the Manusmriti and that the accusations against him did not amount to any legal offense.
The complaint originated from V. Vedha alias Dhamodharan, who claimed that during a conference on Periyar and Indian Politics held on September 27, 2020, Thirumavalavan made statements that tarnished the image of Hindu women. This speech was subsequently broadcasted on the YouTube channel Periyar.
Vedha alleged that Thirumavalavan’s remarks, which referred to the representation of women in the Manusmriti, demeaned Hindu women and tarnished their dignity. As a member of a Hindu family, he expressed feeling humiliated.
After the complaint was filed, the Judicial Magistrate of Peraiyur in Madurai took notice of the case and summoned Thirumavalavan. However, the VCK leader appealed to the High Court to have the case dismissed.
In his defense, Thirumavalavan argued that he had no intention of belittling women, especially Hindu women, and that his comments were direct quotations from the Manusmriti.
During his address, Thirumavalavan reportedly mentioned that women were “belittled and treated unjustly” according to Hindu Dharma, citing the text’s depiction of women in a subordinate position.
The Manusmriti, often viewed as an ancient set of guidelines, has faced criticism from various societal groups for its outdated perspectives on gender and caste. The court, finding no evidence of malicious intent or personal fabrication in Thirumavalavan’s comments, dismissed the case.
