Tamil Nadu Government Appeals Supreme Court Ruling on Thirupparankundram Hill Lamp Lighting
Tamil Nadu's Legal Challenge Over Religious Ceremony
New Delhi: The government of Tamil Nadu has approached the Supreme Court to contest a ruling from the Madras High Court that permitted the lighting of a ceremonial lamp on Thirupparankundram hill.
On June 11, the administration, led by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, filed the petition through their legal representative, B. Karunakaran.
The petition challenges a January 6 decision by the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court, which upheld a previous order from December 1, 2025, mandating that the lamp be lit during the festival.
The High Court's January ruling dismissed concerns regarding public order, labeling them as unfounded fears created for convenience.
It clarified that the location of the stone pillar, known as Deepathoon, is under the jurisdiction of the Sri Subramania Swamy Temple, asserting that the Waqf Board has no standing in this matter.
The court expressed disbelief at the state's fears that allowing temple representatives to light the lamp would disrupt public peace, suggesting that such disturbances would only arise if instigated by the state itself.
The case originated from a petition filed by Rama Ravikumar and others, who sought permission to light the sacred Deepam at the ancient stone pillar during the Karthigai Deepam festival in late November to December.
The High Court's single-judge ruling on December 1, 2025, permitted the lighting of the ceremonial lamp.
However, the then ruling DMK government, along with the temple management and the Hazarath Sultan Sikkandar Badhusha Avuliya Dargah, contested this decision.
The state government expressed concerns that lighting the lamp near the dargah could incite communal tensions.
The High Court also noted that the Waqf Board's claims regarding the lamp pillar's ownership were unfounded and suggested that the state should have used this situation to foster dialogue between the two communities.