In a significant ruling, the Madras High Court has firmly upheld the right of devotees to light the traditional Karthigai Deepam lamp at a stone pillar on the Thiruparankundram hillock, dismissing the state government's apprehensions of a breach of public peace as "ridiculous" and baseless.
Bench Dismisses State's Appeal, Upholds Single Judge Order
A division bench comprising Justices G Jayachandran and K K Ramakrishnan was hearing appeals filed by the State authorities, including the Madurai magistrate and police commissioner, the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board, and the Sikkandar Badhusha Dargah. They were challenging a prior order by a single judge, Justice G R Swaminathan, issued on December 1 last year.
Justice Swaminathan had allowed petitions from temple devotees, directing the restoration of the tradition of lighting the lamp at a stone pillar, identified as a Deepathoon (lamp post), on the lower peak of the hill. The hill is home to both the Arulmigu Subramania Swamy temple and the Muslim dargah.
Court Rejects "Imaginary" Threat to Public Order
The bench took strong exception to the state's argument that lighting a lamp could disturb public peace. The judges found it difficult to accept that the state, despite its authority, would apprehend a law and order problem "merely because a lamp was to be lit on temple land."
The court categorically stated that such fears were nothing more than an "imaginary and conveniently created apprehension" that only served to breed mistrust between communities. It found no reasonable justification for the temple management to refuse the devotees' request.
Historical Context and Land Ownership Clarified
The ruling relied heavily on historical context. Justice Swaminathan's original order had referenced a civil court judgment from the 1920s to establish that only specific portions of the hill belonged to the dargah. The remaining areas, including the site of the Deepathoon, were confirmed to be temple property.
Despite this clear demarcation, authorities in Madurai had prevented devotees from ascending the hill during the 2025 Karthigai Deepam festival, leading to the lamp not being lit. This action prompted the devotees to file a contempt of court petition, which remains pending.
Final Directives and Conditions Imposed
The High Court bench issued clear directives to ensure the tradition is followed while maintaining order. It directed that the temple devasthanam must light the lamp at the Deepathoon. However, it clarified that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is at liberty to impose conditions to ensure the preservation of the monument.
To prevent any untoward incident, the court ordered that members of the public should not accompany the temple authorities during the lighting. It entrusted the District Collector with the supervision of the entire event, ensuring a smooth and peaceful observance of the ritual.
The verdict reinforces the judicial recognition of established religious practices while firmly questioning administrative overreach based on unsubstantiated fears, marking a pivotal moment in the long-standing discussion around shared sacred spaces in the region.
