- Photo: ANI
TAMIL NADU, (India): Madras High Court’s Madurai Bench on Tuesday (Jan 6) upheld Justice GR Swaminathan’s order allowing the lighting of lamps on the “Deepathoon” in the Tirupparankundram temple.
The Madurai Bench led by Justices G Jayachandran and KK Ramakrishnan observed that the district administration ought to have taken the issue as an opportunity to eliminate the gap between the communities through mediation.
[The term "Deepathoon" (of Deepa Thoon, which means "lamp pillar" in Tamil) refers to a centuries-old stone lamp pillar located on the Thirupparankundram Hill in Madurai, Tamil Nadu.]
Earlier, acting on a petition filed by a right-wing activist, Justice GR Swaminathan had instructed state authorities to ensure that the sacred lamp was lit atop the hill.
Petitioner and Hindu Makkal Katchi (HMK) leader Rajesh called the verdict ‘remarkable.’
He hailed the verdict as a victory for the Hindus of Tamil Nadu and for Murugan devotees, including students.
He further said that the court refuted the arguments presented by the government today, regarding the possibility of law-and-order issues.
Details of the verdict
The Division Bench stated that any activity there must strictly comply with the Act’s provisions since the hill is a protected site.
In the verdict, the Court clarified that the lamp may be lit and the number of persons permitted can be fixed, following consultation with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
The court came down heavily on the government.
Advocate and Petitioner for Hindu Munnani, Niranjan S Kumar told reporters, "The court said that after the order has been passed, the act that has happened seems to be mischievous.
"If the stand of the government that there could be a law and order problem is true, then it is obviously either a failure on the part of the state to maintain its law and order or for the deliberate purpose for the state has taken a stand to support one religion."
In the first week of December 2025, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court had directed that the petitioner along with ten others be permitted to go up to the Deepam pillar on the Tirupparankundram hilltop to light the Karthigai Deepam, while ordering the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) to provide adequate security, after it found that its earlier order on the ritual had been wilfully disobeyed.
However, government officials maintained that this violated the longstanding practice of lighting the lamp at the nearby Deepa Mandapam, a ritual observed for several years. - The Statesman/ANN
