T. Muthuswamy Iyer

Who was T. Muthuswamy Iyer?

Sir Thiruvarur Muthuswamy Iyer KCIE was an Indian lawyer who, in 1877, became the first native Indian to be appointed as judge of the Madras High Court. He also acted as the Chief Justice of the Madras High Court in 1893. Iyer as an orthodox Brahmin has always been criticized for his Brahmin biased judgment. Iyer once made a statement that Muslims and dalits must not step inside temples, the controversially casteist remark:

Hindu temples were neither founded nor are kept up for the benefit of Mahomedans, outcastes and others who are outside the scope of it