Madras High Court Defers Contempt Plea in Thiruparankundram Deepam Row as State Moves Supreme Court

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Friday deferred hearing a contempt petition alleging non-compliance with its order permitting the Karthigai Deepam to be lit atop Thiruparankundram Hill at the ancient Deepathoon pillar, after noting that the State’s special leave petition (SLP) against the earlier directions was listed before the Supreme Court today.

Earlier this week, Justice G.R. Swaminathan reaffirmed that the Deepam must be lit at Deepathoon, which is the stone lamp-pillar situated on the hill, and held that the site fell squarely within the property of the Arulmigu Subramaniya Swamy Temple.

Court rejected objections from the temple administration, the State, and the dargah, and directed the police to provide protection to ensure the ritual was carried out. Court also quashed the prohibitory order imposed by the Madurai District Collector under Section 163 of the BNSS in the Thiruparankundram area after clashes erupted during the execution of the court direction of December 3, permitting devotees to reach the temple and light lamps at the stone pillar.

The petitioners today approached the court again, alleging that despite the clear judicial mandate, the lighting of the Deepam did not take place as directed on December 4 too. They filed a contempt petition asserting that officials had declined to follow the order and had obstructed devotees who attempted to climb the hill.

When the matter was taken up today, counsel for the contempt petitioner informed the court that lighting had not taken place “yesterday also” and that the Tamil Nadu authorities had instead approached the Supreme Court seeking relief from the High Court’s order.

Counsel told the court that they had gone to the site in accordance with its directions, but the Deputy Commissioner did not comply. He said the court’s instructions were disregarded, nearly 200 police personnel encircled them, and officers warned they would be arrested if they attempted to climb the hill

He further stated that 21 people were arrested and nearly 300 were detained in a marriage hall, despite the petitioners’ attempts to comply with the court’s directive.

Counsel argued that the State had failed to provide protection as required.

Justice Swaminathan, however, clarified that he did not wish to broaden the scope of the hearing. He remarked that the present matter was a simple issue regarding the lighting of the lamp, indicating that the court would confine itself to the question of compliance.

Given the allegations put forth, court directed the Additional Solicitor General to file a report from the CISF Commandant who had accompanied the petitioners on December 3 for the execution of the earlier order.

Background of the Hill and the Current Dispute

Thiruparankundram Hill has long been a shared sacred site for Hindus and Muslims, housing the Subramaniya Swamy temple and the 17th-century Sikkandar Badusha dargah. A 1923 court judgment confirmed that the hill, except for the mosque site and some cultivated land, belongs to the Murugan temple. After years of calm, tensions resurfaced earlier this year over demands to rename the hill and objections to animal sacrifice at the dargah. The Madurai Bench later barred the ritual following a split verdict.

The latest flashpoint concerns lighting the Karthigai Deepam. Activist Rama Ravikumar sought permission to restore the practice of lighting the lamp at Deepathoon atop the hill, which Justice G.R. Swaminathan allowed on December 1. But officials followed the century-old custom of lighting it near the Uchipillaiyar temple instead. After the petitioner alleged non-compliance, the judge, on December 3, directed CISF personnel to escort him up the hill to symbolically light the lamp, but the district administration imposed Section 144 citing law-and-order concerns.

Case Title: Rama.Ravikumar vs. K J Praveenkumar IAS and 2 Others

Order Date: December 5, 2025

Bench: Justice G.R. Swaminathan