Madras: The Thiruparankundram hill case reached the supreme court after the Tamil Nadu Government challenged a Madras High Court order allowing the lighting of the Karthigai Deepam lamp on a stone pillar near the hilltop. The Supreme Court has now issued notice to the respondents but declined to stay the High Court’s order. The case is important because it involves questions about religious practice, heritage, and public administration.
Thiruparankundram Hill Case: Supreme Court Issues Notice
A Bench of Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice Vipul Pancholi issued notice on the Tamil Nadu Government’s Special Leave Petition (SLP). The respondents include the original petitioners, the High Court writ petitioners, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board, and the Sikandar Badusha Dargah. However, the Supreme Court refused the State’s request to put the Madras High Court’s order on hold for now.
Read also: Thiruparankundram Hill Deepa Thoon Case: Tamil Nadu Files Supreme Court Appeal Against HC Order
Thiruparankundram Hill Case: Why Did Tamil Nadu Move The Supreme Court
The Tamil Nadu Government filed the SLP on June 11, after the new government led by Chief Minister Vijay assumed office. The appeal challenges the Madras High Court (Madurai Bench) judgment dated January 6, which upheld an earlier single-judge order passed in December 2025 permitting the lighting of the Karthigai Deepam lamp at the disputed stone pillar on Thiruparankundram Hill in Madurai.
Background Of The Thiruparankundram Hill Case
The dispute relates to a Deepa Thoon (stone lamp pillar) located about 50 metres from the Sikandar Badusha Dargah on Thiruparankundram Hill. Devotees had approached the Madras High Court seeking permission to light the ceremonial lamp at this location during the Karthigai Deepam festival.
The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department and the temple administration opposed the request. They argued that there was no established custom of lighting the lamp at this particular pillar and raised concerns over law and order.
What Did The Madras High Court Say
Justice G.R. Swaminathan, while deciding the writ petition, held that allowing devotees to light the lamp would not affect the rights of the Dargah. The judge also observed that preventing devotees from performing the ritual would violate their rights. After officials did not implement the order, contempt proceedings followed.
Later, a Division Bench of the Madras High Court upheld the single-judge’s decision, stating that lighting the ceremonial lamp would not create any law-and-order problem and that the temple administration should protect traditional practices.
Read also: Karthigai Deepam Row Ends: Madras High Court Upholds Lamp Lighting atop Thiruparankundram Hill
