8 months ago
Madras HC Upholds Lamp Lighting Order
The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has decided that a lamp can be lit on an ancient pillar near a dargah on the Thiruparankundram hilltop.
The court said it is strange to think that lighting a lamp could cause trouble unless the government itself is causing it.
The court also said it is not true that the stone pillar belongs to the dargah.
The practice of lighting a lamp in a high place is for all Hindu devotees to see, and there is no good reason for the temple management not to let the lamp be lit.
Many parties, including the temple administration, the Tamil Nadu government, and the Wakf Board, had argued against the order.
The court's decision will address all related concerns, and there is also an impeachment motion against the judge who initially allowed the deepam lighting.
The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court upheld a single judge's order allowing the lighting of a lamp on an ancient pillar near the dargah on the Thiruparankundram hilltop.
The court criticized the fear of public disturbance and the claim that the pillar belongs to the dargah, stating that the practice of lighting the lamp is traditional and visible to all Hindu devotees.
The Tamil Nadu government and other parties argued that there is no evidence to support the claim that the pillar is a traditional lamp pillar and that the order could disrupt religious customs and public peace.
The petitioner argued that lighting a lamp is a religious practice protected under Article 25 of the Constitution and that the hill has historically been a shared sacred space.
The court directed that the temple administration, not the general public, should perform the ritual, and that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) may impose conditions to protect the site.
- Who
- Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, Tamil Nadu government, temple administration, Wakf Board, dargah authorities, Madurai city police, and petitioner Rama Ravikumar
- What
- Verdict on whether a petitioner can light a lamp on an ancient pillar near the dargah on the Thiruparankundram hilltop
- Where
- Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India
- When
- 6 January 2026
- Why
- To resolve the dispute over the permission to light a lamp on the pillar, which has multiple parties involved with differing viewpoints
Key facts
- Location
- Thiruparankundram hilltop, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India
- Court
- Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court
- Verdict Date
- 6 January 2026
- Parties Involved
- Tamil Nadu government, temple administration, Wakf Board, dargah authorities, Madurai city police, and petitioner Rama Ravikumar
- Core Issue
- Permission to light a lamp on an ancient pillar near the dargah
- Constitutional Article Cited
- Article 25 (religious practice)
- Impeachment Motion
- INDI Alliance against Justice G R Swaminathan
- Protected Site
- Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)
Timeline
Bombay High Court OKs Kolhapur slaughter, setting precedent.
Madras High Court splits on Thiruparankundram Hill sacrifices, orders lamp lighting.
Madras High Court's lamp ruling sparks Madurai Bench decision.
Madurai Bench dismisses concerns, allows lamp lighting on ancient pillar.
Lamp can be lit near Thiruparankundram Hill dargah, Madurai Bench rules.
Quotes
S. Regupathy
Senior DMK leader and Tamil Nadu law minister
“The judges should have passed the order granting permission only on facts pertaining to lighting of deepam at the stone pillar. There is no evidence for that. No one has raised the demand to light the deepam at the stone pillar during the reign of former chief ministers Rajaji (Dr C. Rajagopalachari), Kamarajar, MGR (M.G. Ramachandran), and Karunanidhi. When it was raised during the chief ministership of late Jayalalithaa, she had firmly turned it down, making it clear that it can’t be allowed.”
deccanchronicle.com
“This verdict is against established law and contrary to well settled legal principles. The culture and tradition of the Tamils must be protected. Granting permission because someone has sought it is utterly wrong. There is an ulterior motive in sneaking in a new practice contrary to tradition through Court intervention. Hence, we oppose it. We however don’t want to denigrate the verdict.”
deccanchronicle.com
Sources
Madras HC Upholds Single-Judge Directive to Light Karthigai Lamp Atop Thiruparankundram Hill
Madras High Court Affirms Karthigai Deepam Lamp Lighting At Thiruparankundram
Tamil Nadu Deepam Row: Madurai Bench To Deliver Verdict Tomorrow
Madras HC says Tamil Nadu govt created ‘imaginary ghost’ as it allows lamp lighting on ‘Deepathoon’
Big Win For Hindu Devotees: Madras HC Says Temple Devasthanam Must Light The Lamp At Deepathoon
Madras High Court Upholds Permission To Light Lamp At Thirupparankundram During Deepathoon
"Lamp Can Be Lit On Hilltop": High Court Upholds Order In Deepam Row
Madras High Court upholds lighting of Karthigai Deepam at Thiruparankundram
Madras HC Allows Lamp Lighting Atop Thiruparankundram Hill
The Madurai Bench dismissed appeals by the State, police, Waqf Board and dargah, ruled there was no res judicata bar, found no Agama prohibition, and ordered Archaeological Survey of India oversight w
Madras HC upholds decision to light lamp at Thiruparankundram hill, slams DMK Govt's refusal as 'political convenience'
'Hope That DMK Govt Will Stop Blatant Misuse of Power': Annamalai Welcomes Madras HC's Verdict on Deepathoon Issue
BJP hails Madras HC verdict on ‘Deepathoon,’ slams DMK, INDIA bloc as ‘anti-Hindu’
Madras HC to deliver verdict in Thiruparankundram Hill lamp case today
HC Bench upholds single judge ruling allowing lighting of deepam on Thirupparankundram hill
Madras HC upholds single-judge order on lighting of lamp atop Thiruparankundram hill
TN govt to challenge Madras HC order on lighting of lamp at Thirupparankundram hill in Supreme Court
Madras HC upholds order allowing lamp lighting on ‘Deepathoon’ in Tirupparankundram temple
Govt Will Go On Appeal Against Thiruparankundram Verdict
Heritage Temple Dispute: High Court Steps In, Demands Answers on Relocation of Deity
Tamil Nadu To Challenge HC Order On Deepam: TN Minister
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