The ‘Mahadeepam’ being lit atop the hillock at Tirupparankundram near the Subramaniaswamy Temple on the occasion of ‘Karthigai Deepam, on December 3, 2025.
| Photo Credit: ASHOK R
The Supreme Court on Friday (December 5, 2025) saw a mercurial few moments when a Tamil Nadu State counsel’s effort for an early listing of an appeal challenging a Madras High Court order allowing worshippers of the Arulmighu Subramaniya Swamy Temple to light lamps at the Deepathoon (stone lamp pillar) atop the Thiruparankundram hill, located close to a dargah, was resisted by the rival camp as an attempt to create “drama”.
The oral mentioning happened as soon as the Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant assembled in the courtroom in the morning.
The tension triggered by the High Court decision spilled over into the Supreme Court on Friday morning, shortly after a lawyer appearing for Madurai District Collector K.J. Praveenkumar and police chief J. Loganathan, IPS, urged the Chief Justice to list the petition.
The petition was filed late on December 4, a few hours after the High Court passed its order.
The mentioning took an adversarial tone as advocate P.V. Yogeswaran, for the respondents, intervened strongly, accusing the State of playing drama in the Supreme Court. “The State is only trying to convey to the High Court that it has moved the Supreme Court,” Mr. Yogeswaran interjected.
The State counsel said he was merely trying to get a listing in the case. The Chief Justice asked the lawyers to calm down, saying “It is only 10.30 in the morning”.
The CJI then turned to the State counsel and said the plea for listing would be considered in due course.
On December 4, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court declined a State plea challenging a Single Bench order for the lighting of the lamp under Central Industrial Security Force cover.
The High Court had quashed the prohibitory orders imposed under Section 163 of BNSS in Tirupparankundram on Wednesday (December 3, 2025). The judge then directed that the lamp be lit on Thursday (December 4, 2025) evening.
“December 4 is Sarvalaya Deepam day. Therefore, Karthigai Deepam can be lit today also. This order should be read along with the earlier orders passed by the court. Except for deputing the CISF Personnel and the change regarding the date, in all other respects, the directions issued on December 3 hold good,” the High Court said, and posted the matter for reporting compliance on Friday (December 5, 2025) morning.
Published – December 05, 2025 11:52 am IST
