On Monday, October 6, 2025, Justice N. Senthilkumar of the Madras High Court opened up about his decision to overlook the intense social media backlash he encountered. This wave of trolling began after he delivered a “strong condemnation” regarding actor C. Joseph Vijay’s political organization, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), particularly concerning their handling of a tragic stampede at their Karur rally on September 27.
The judge broached this sensitive topic while presiding over a civil suit initiated by renowned chef and film actor Madhampatty T. Rangaraj. Rangaraj sought an injunction to prevent costume designer Joy Crizildaa from disseminating what he labeled as false, malicious, and defamatory remarks across various media platforms, asserting that these statements undermined his public image and personality rights.
As senior counsel Srinath Sridevan elaborated on the damage inflicted upon his client by Ms. Crizildaa’s “defamatory” social media posts, Justice Senthilkumar interjected, “Senior counsel, tell me, who remains untouched by social media scrutiny these days? Even judges, myself included, endure constant trolling.”
In an indirect yet clear reference to the severe online harassment he and his family faced after his October 3 ruling—which established a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the Karur stampede that tragically claimed 41 lives—Justice Senthilkumar questioned, “Are you suggesting we are immune to this? When people hold differing opinions, they drag our families and our pasts into it, painting judges in various shades. While these occurrences are inevitable, there’s no need to take them too seriously. We should, in fact, simply smile and let them pass.”
Mr. Sridevan, assisted by advocate Vijayan Subramanian, countered that not every individual possesses the mental fortitude required to disregard such public character attacks. The judge responded sagely, “Once you achieve prominence and a certain societal standing, these challenges inevitably follow.”
Subsequently, Justice Senthilkumar issued a notice to Ms. Crizildaa, instructing her senior counsel, S. Prabakaran, to ensure a counter-affidavit was submitted by October 22. He firmly declined to issue any interim order against her, emphasizing the importance of allowing her an opportunity to present her defense.
Concluding the hearing, Mr. Prabakaran, who also serves as the vice-chairman of the Bar Council of India, assured the judge of the legal community’s unwavering support and urged him not to internalize the online negativity. Justice Senthilkumar simply replied that this was precisely the sentiment he had been conveying himself.